RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — As the LIV Golf League officially kicks off its 2026 campaign at the Riyadh Golf Club tonight, the spotlight isn’t just on the new 72-hole format, but on five specific players poised to define the tournament under the lights.
- Jon Rahm (Legion XIII): The 2025 Individual Champion and two-time winner returns as the man to beat. Rahm enters Riyadh with the opportunity to make history as the first player to win three consecutive season openers. Having finished T2 here last year, he has proven his comfort with the unique night-golf shadows.
- Adrian Meronk (Cleeks GC): The defending Riyadh champion is looking for a repeat performance. Meronk’s breakthrough win here in 2025 was the highlight of his career, and his elite driving distance is a perfect match for the wide, forgiving fairways of the “Pearl of the Desert.”
- Joaquin Niemann (Torque GC): After finishing runner-up to Rahm in the season-long standings for two straight years, Niemann is on a mission. The youngest captain in the league looks to replicate his record-setting 2025 form, where he won five tournaments.
- Michael La Sasso (HyFlyers GC): Making his professional debut tonight, the 21-year-old reigning NCAA Division I Individual Champion is the most anticipated newcomer. He steps directly into the spotlight, filling a critical role for the HyFlyers in the absence of Phil Mickelson.
- Caleb Surratt (Legion XIII): The 21-year-old “Riyadh Specialist” has a phenomenal track record at this course. Across his appearances in LIV and the International Series, Surratt has never finished outside the top 11 at Riyadh Golf Club, including two second-place finishes.
According to official league data, these five represent the mix of veteran dominance and emerging youth that LIV Golf is prioritizing for its fifth season. The first round begins with a shotgun start at 6:05 PM local time.