RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — The 2026 LIV Golf League season officially commences tonight, Wednesday, February 4, at the Riyadh Golf Club, marking the second consecutive year the league has launched its calendar with a dedicated night-golf tournament.
In a historic shift for the league’s fifth season, the ROSHN Group LIV Golf Riyadh will debut a new 72-hole, four-round stroke-play format, expanding from the traditional 54-hole model. The tournament also features the largest field in league history with 57 players, including 13 teams of four and five independent wild cards.
The first round is scheduled for a shotgun start at 6:05 PM local time, with the entire competition taking place under a specialized floodlight system at the “Pearl of the Desert.” Defending individual champion Adrian Meronk (Cleeks GC) and 2025 team champions Legion XIII, captained by Jon Rahm, return to a course that has been further enhanced with additional lighting to address player feedback regarding shadows.
According to official league communications, the 2026 season introduces significant financial and structural updates:
- Total Purse: Increased to $30 million per event ($20 million individual; $10 million team).
- Field Updates: Five wild card spots filled by Scott Vincent, Yosuke Asaji, Richard T. Lee, Anthony Kim, and Bjorn Hellgren.
- Team Changes: The South African “Stinger GC” has rebranded to Southern Guards, while the Iron Heads are now the Korean Golf Club.
The event serves as the first stop on a 14-tournament global schedule. Beyond the course, the ROSHN Group Fan Village will host a four-day festival featuring live performances from artists including PAWSA, who is set to headline tonight’s post-round concert at 11:00 PM.