Post round comments
Two-time LIV Golf winner Joaquin Niemann, who posted an impressive five-under second round to sit tied for the lead.
Image Credit: PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.
On his second round…
“That was a good round. I started pretty good. It could have been a way better round after the back nine. I had a lot of chances for birdie that I didn’t actually make those putts. I think the greens are tricky, they’re tricky to make putts. So that was still a good round. There’s some low scores out there. I’m expecting low scores this afternoon as well. I feel like I’m in great position for what’s coming the next two days.”
American Logan McAllister carded a stunning seven-under round, featuring six birdies and eagle on the par-5, 5th hole to set the course record (along with Tyrrell Hatton) at Riyadh Golf Club.
On enjoying playing his first Asian Tour event…
“It’s been awesome. They do it right here. Something as easy as the food, the food’s been amazing this week. The physios have been good. Everything’s been pretty good. It’s a long ways from home, but I’ve enjoyed my experience so far.”
Peter Uihlein, the final player to reach the 11 under mark, added a 66 to his opening-round 65.
On what a win would mean….
“It would be awesome. It’s a goal to try to win the International Series Order of Merit. It would be nice to accomplish that goal. I feel like I played pretty solid most of the events out here. I had a couple hiccups but for the most part been pretty solid. It would be nice to finish it off, for sure.”
2022 Open Champion Cameron Smith joined Niemann McAlllister, and Uihlein atop the leaderboard with a bogey-free 64.
On today’s conditions…
“Quite similar, to be honest. Probably not as much wind. The ball wasn’t going as far. It was a little bit chilly this morning. As the day went on, it got warmer, the ball started to go again, played more like yesterday afternoon.”
Briton, Steve Lewton, who finished tied 4th at this event two years ago, carded a bogey-free 65 to sit in tied 5th place.
On enjoying the changes made to the course…
“It’s changed a lot. We’ve played here a couple of times in the past. They put some new tees in and lengthened quite a few holes. It’s a different challenge now, but it’s in good condition and I think the guys will be loving it.”
The leading player amongst the five strong Saudi contingent was Khalid Attieh who missed the cut by a single shot.
On his experience this week….
It was quite tough out there. I think I got a few unlucky breaks at the beginning of the round. I was able to find of fight through in the middle to get it back but yeah it was a tough finish. But a lot of positives to take out of this week I think. Played with some top players and learning a lot about the experience at the end of the day. So I’m hoping for better finishes in the future.
We all work very hard to try and achieve the most out of our game. So it’s nice to see some of the Saudi players also posting some nice numbers and then hopefully we can definitely learn from this week and moving forward, try and compete against these big guys that are here this week. It’s been an awesome experience, and thanks to golf Saudi and the Saudi Federation for helping us out through this journey.
Uihlein stays on course for perfect finish to season
By AsianTour.com
American Peter Uihlein took another step towards securing The International Series Rankings today after finishing in a share of the halfway lead for the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers at Riyadh Golf Club.
He is in front with fellow LIV Golf stars Cam Smith from Australia and Chilean Joaquin Niemann, as well as fellow American Logan McAllister.
Uihlein won the International Series Qatar last week to take over at the top of the rankings for the first time this year and is clearly still on point – shooting a six-under-par 65 today to move to 11-under.
Smith shot 64, Niemann 66 and McAllister 63 – which is a new course record.
Englishman Tyrell Hatton, another LIV Golf alumni, is a stroke further back also after 63, along with compatriot Steve Lewton (65), Australia’s Travis Smyth (66) and American Jason Kokrak (68).
First-round leaders Chang Wei-lun from Chinese-Taipei and Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana fell away with rounds of 73 and are five under.
The cream rose to the top today in the season-ending event on the Asian Tour and The International Series.
Uihlein, also a winner at the International Series England in August, uncharacteristically dropped his only two shows on two of the par fives, normally bread and butter for the big hitter, but he chipped in for a birdie on 16 to catch the leaders.
“Proud of the way I handled those situations, and yeah, I feel good,” said the 35-year-old.
“Obviously, there’s so many points available and there’s two more days. Anything can happen. Just going to kind of keep trying to do what I’m doing, what I’ve been doing and hopefully it keeps going.”
A thousand points will go to the winner this week meaning the rankings race is wide open. The winner will earn a place on the LIV Golf League next year.
“It would be awesome [to win the rankings]. It’s a goal to try to win The International Series Rankings. It would be nice to accomplish that goal. I feel like I played pretty solid most of the events out here. I had a couple hiccups but for the most part been pretty solid. It would be nice to finish it off, for sure.”
Smith is looking for his first victory over 72 holes since his win at the Australian PGA Championship at the end of 2022 and is well placed to achieve that heading into the next two rounds.
Having spent the last two weeks in Australia – where he missed out on a fourth Australian PGA title, finishing second – he arrived here jet-lagged and welcomed this morning’s calm conditions.
“Just played really solid,” said the 2022 Open champion.
“I didn’t really do too much wrong. Bogey-free game was nice. It was just really quite an easy round of golf, which is obviously nice.
“It was nice getting out there this morning and no wind. With a bit of jet lag, being off early I think it kind of actually worked out in our favour.”
He did win twice on the LIV Golf League last year individually and has been runner-up on three occasions this season – including a play-off defeat in Hong Kong.
Added the Australian, who plays for Rippers GC on LIV Golf: “A win would be great. I think also just being in contention on Sunday would also be great. I’m sorry, on Saturday. We started on Wednesday here.”
Niemann is also psyched for victory this week.
He said: “I’ve been playing great. I feel like I’ve been missing that Sunday round the last couple tournaments that I’ve played. I’ve been having a chance to win all of those weeks, but I just didn’t have that good Sunday.
“Right now, my form has been the best, a really good first two rounds. There’s still a lot of golf to play, and I’m looking forward to that.”
With the course having been lengthened this week and a number of changes made, McAllister and Hatton’s round set a new course record. American MJ Maguire also shot 63.
Defending champion Abraham Ancer from Mexico signed for 68 and is six under.
American John Catlin, who wrapped up the Asian Tour Order of Merit title last week in Qatar, is in second place on the rankings and has given himself an outside chance of overtaking Uihlein.
He came in with a 69 having rallied after looking like missing the cut at one point.