Joaquin Niemann beats former major champion Cameron Smith and LIV golfer Caleb Surratt in dramatic performance at PIF Saudi International Play-off victory.
Smith shot into the leaderboard with a 9-under 62 on the final day at Riyadh Golf Club, with the Australian setting a club target of 21-under when both Niemann and Surat scored on the final hole. On a bogey, it was enough to force a playoff in regulation.
Surratt shot 66 in the final round, and Niemann shot 67, 4 under par. He joined Smith in a three-way playoff. All three players birdied the first extra hole, and then Niemann Another great birdie clinched the win and the $1 million top prize was next.
Niemann's victory in the final Asian Tour event of the year capped an impressive year that also saw him win twice in the LIV Golf League and top the 2024 International Series rankings.
New Zealand's Ben Campbell missed out on the play-offs and next year's LIV Golf League (earning international series rankings), but finished one shot behind England's Terry in fourth Tyrrell Hatton rounded out the top five.
How Niemann captured Saudi victory
Niemann started the final day with a one-shot lead and got off to a perfect start with birdies on each of the first three holes, with the Chilean dominating until the three-shot 14th hole. Bogey the hole.
He ran into trouble on the final tee in regulation, missing a five-foot putt for par and winning, though he did well in the playoff with a close birdie on the second playoff hole to make made up for it.
“It’s a really good way to end the season,” Niemann said. “I'm very excited about what's coming next season at LIV and hopefully making it to a few majors.”
Surratt birdied five of his opening seven holes and added two more in a three-hole stretch starting at the 11th, with a bogey on the par-4 hole his first since the start. Conceded for the first time in a day and almost missed again in the Asian competition. travel.
“That's a tough pill to swallow,” the American said. “I've been very close a few times this year in the International Series and I really struggled this week because I didn't get off to a good start. I played perfect golf six times in the playoffs, but I didn't have that this time. I really can’t find the way, I hope I can find it one day.”
Smith appeared to be completely out of contention after finishing sixth in the final group, and despite a stellar final round with nine birdies, he failed miserably in the play-offs.
“Sometimes all you can do is all you can do,” Smith said. “That seems to be it for me this year. I feel like when I play really good golf, somebody's going to beat me out there. It's just not a full break and I guess you need to win golf tournaments. I can't wait for 2025 years.”
Niemann's success meant Americans Peter Uihlein and Campbell finished second and third respectively in the international rankings.
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