Co-leader Elvis Smylie of Ripper GC speaks at a press conference after the third round of LIV Golf Riyadh at Riyadh Golf Club on Friday. Image courtesy LIV Golf.
From a Correspondent
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: LIV Golf enters unchartered territory on Saturday at Roshn Group LIV Golf Riyadh, and the occasion could include a final-round shootout on both the team and individual leaderboards.
The league’s first 72-hole regular-season tournament, part of the significant adjustments made for the 2026 season, concludes with Saturday night’s fourth round at Riyadh Golf Club.
New LIV Golf player Elvis Smylie of Ripper GC and overnight leader Peter Uihlein of RangeGoats GC are tied for the lead at 16 under.
Smash GC’s Talor Gooch is just a shot back, the closest pursuer of the 17 players who are within six shots of the co-leaders.
In the team competition, Torque GC – fuelled by 7 under par 65s by Mexican Olympic teammates Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz – are at 46 under, two shots ahead of Smash.
Ripper, eyeing next week’s home tournament at LIV Golf Adelaide, are another shot back.
More time
Had the tournament been played under the old 54-hole format, Uihlein and Smylie would have had to settle things in a playoff on Friday.
But now the leaders and contenders get 18 more holes to crown a champion.
“Yeah, thanks for bringing that up,” laughed Uihlein, who has appeared in all 51 LIV Golf tournaments and is seeking his first league individual title.
“I feel like 72 holes fits me a little better. If you would have told me at the beginning of the week, hey, you’d be tied for the lead after 54 and you have a chance to win, that’s where you’d want to be. I’d take it. Looking forward to the challenge tomorrow.”
The 23-year-old Smylie is making his first LIV Golf start after joining the all-Australian Rippers last month, so he never competed under the 54-hole format.
But he is looking to send a message to his new competitors. He said he was in “total control” of his shots during Friday’s bogey-free 7 under 65.
“Without a doubt, I want to prove my worth in this league, and I want to establish myself as one of the best in this league,” the left-hander said.
“The best way to do that is by going out and making a statement this week.”
Ancer is among the group of players who now get a fourth round to chase a LIV Golf trophy instead of having to be satisfied with a high finish.
Welcome chance
The new Torque player won his first LIV Golf individual title two years ago in the 54-hole format while playing for Fireballs GC. He welcomes the opportunity to have an extra 18 holes to claim a second title.
“I feel like 54 holes was good enough to figure out who’s playing the best golf,” said Ancer, whose 65 was highlighted by a 50-foot plus eagle putt.
“You just feel like it’s a little bit more of a sprint, have a little bit less time for you to make mistakes and come back from them.
“But then playing 72 holes, you feel like if you’re a steady player, that would maybe help you rise to the top of the leaderboard.”
Two of the steadiest LIV Golf players are Gooch and Legion XIII captain Jon Rahm, who’ve combined to win the last three season-long individual championships.
They’ve each celebrated 13 trophies (individual and team), tying for the most in league history, and remain in contention for more hardware thanks to the additional fourth round.
Consistent sccoring
Gooch, who follows the Rule of 67 – everything takes care of itself by shooting 67 or better – shot his third consecutive 67 as he seeks a fifth individual tournament title.
Rahm shot his second 67 of the week and is tied for fourth with Ancer, Smash GC’s Jason Kokrak and 4Aces GC’s Thomas Detry, who – like Smylie – is making his league debut in Riyadh.
Despite increased winds and rainy weather on Friday, with players expecting the tougher conditions to impact scoring, the field shot its lowest average of the week, nearly 3-1/2 strokes under par during a lively third-round Moving Day.
“It didn’t feel like it was easier than yesterday, but everyone went low,” said Uihlein, who opened his round with four consecutive birdies en route to a 66.
“I’m expecting it to be a shootout, but we could come out here tomorrow and it’s blowing 15, 20 again, so you never know.”
Added Ancer: “I felt like the scores weren’t going to be low, and then I got off to a really hot start and I was like, ‘Ooh, I’m going to be way up there’, and then I’m like, ‘Damn, everybody is shooting really low.’
“That was surprising. I guess it doesn’t matter what the weather does. It feels like we need to make a lot of birdies tomorrow.” (courtesy LIV Golf)
Leaderboardds: Individual Top 10
T1 (-16) – Elvis Smylie, Ripper (66-69-65), Peter Uihlein, RangeGoats (65-69-66)
3 (-15) – Talor Gooch, Smash (67-67-67)
T4 (-14) – Jon Rahm, Legion XIII (67-68-67), Abraham Ancer, Torque (68-69-65), Thomas Detry, 4Aces (65-69-68)
T7 (-13) – Jason Kokrak, Smash (71-64-68), David Puig, Fireballs (69-67-67), Thomas Pieters, 4Aces (70-68-65)
T10 (-12) – Sebastián Muñoz, Torque (67-68), Byeong Hun An (67-70-67)
Team Top 3
1. (-46) – Torque GC (Ancer 65, Ortiz 65, Muñoz 69, Niemann 70; Rd. 3 score: -19)
2. (-44) – Smash GC (Gooch 67, Kokrak 68, McDowell 68, Varner III 71; Rd. 3 score: -14)
3. (-43) – Ripper GC (Herbert 65, Smylie 65, Leishman 68, Smith 68; Rd. 3 score: -22)
Also read: Gooch back in familiar territory, shares LIV Riyadh 36-hole lead
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