1 week ago
December 7, 2024 - Riyadh: Chile’s Joaquin Niemann produced a masterclass of golf under the highest pressure to scoop the $1 million winner’s prize in the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers on Saturday for his second win in the Kingdom this year.
Niemann needed two holes of a play-off to secure the title when he birdied the 396-yard par four 18th for the second time in a row while Caleb Surratt, from 10 feet, and Cameron Smith, from seven, both narrowly missed their putts for a three. The trio had all birdied the first play-off hole, also the 18th, minutes earlier.
The play-off win, which follows his triumph in the LIV Series Jeddah event in March, also secured the The International Series Rankings first prize for the 26-year-old Niemann from Santiago whose magical chip from light rough to three feet finally secured this important victory.
Surratt, 20, who was chasing his first professional victory and shot a final-round 66, ensured it was no easy cruise for Niemann, who converted six birdies in his final round 67 for a four-round 21-below par total of 263.
However, both Surratt and Niemann surprisingly bogeyed their 72nd hole, the 18th, to allow Smith into a play-off following the Australian’s best-of-the-day 62 earlier on Saturday.
Smith, the 2022 Open Champion, had earlier written off his chances of being in the final mix when he spoke to media, but had not reckoned on uncharacheristic errors on the final hole by the leading duo saw Surratt’s tee shot finding water and Niemann’s drive landing in thick rough.
After the drama, champion Niemann paid fulsome praise to Golf Saudi, the organisers of the event and responsible for the incredible growth in popularity of the sport in the Kingdom, which produced a record five players good enough to play in this year’s event, now one of the most highly-rated golf tournaments in the region.
Niemann said: “I’m seeing golf developing here in Saudi Arabia thanks to Golf Saudi and it’s great to see them taking the game to the next level here. I’m delighted to be part of that and seeing kids here too watching us play is a good sign for a bright future.”
Meanwhile, Peter Uihlein had started the day in pole position to finish The International Series Rankings in top spot but the sure touch that had earned him victory in the previous event in Qatar and had taken him into contention after three rounds here completely deserted him when it mattered most on Saturday.
The American dropped three strokes after the turn, suffering a disastrous double bogey six at the 11th having bogeyed the previous hole, and tumbled to joint 29th overall after a three-over 74, 13 under par overall.
It left him second behind Niemann in The International Series Rankings with New Zealander Ben Campbell in third place following his fourth position in Riyadh thanks to a closing 64 for 20 under par overall.
John Catlin, another American, was also in the winner’s circle at the conclusion of the event for finishing top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit, which he had secured prior to this tournament where he finished joint 34th at 12 under par following a closing round of 65.
The leading Arab finisher was amateur Adam Bresnu of Morocco who strung together highly creditable rounds of 66, 68, 67 and 66 to finish at 17 under overall for a share of sixth place.
Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation will be delighted with the sixth edition of the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, which has swiftly secured its place among the very best tournaments among the international pro tour circuits since its launch in 2019.
Riyadh Golf Club, which has recently been lengthened and improved, was widely praised by all the players as a great test and the event has attracted record crowds both for the world class golf on display and a string of some of the leading acts in the Middle East, topped by Egyptian superstar singer Amr Diab on Saturday evening.
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