Final Round Recap: LIV Riyadh – Big Wins and Costly Misses

 The first tournament of the LIV side bet season has come to a close, and what a finish it was at Riyadh Golf Club! With millions on the line and leaderboard shuffling throughout the final round, our participants saw both triumphs and disappointments unfold.

Top Performers – Strong Finishes and Big Paydays

One of the biggest standouts of the tournament was Scott, who selected Jon Rahm. Rahm delivered a dominant performance, finishing T2 at -15, earning a massive $1,875,000 payday. This puts Scott in an early commanding position in the money race, making him the one to chase as the season progresses.

Dan and Sean both made strong moves in the final round, finishing T6 at -13, securing $534,500 each. Their selections, David Puig and Tyrrell Hatton, delivered when it mattered most, solidifying their spots inside the top 10 and giving them a great start in the money standings.

Another notable finish came from Matt, who picked Anirban Lahiri. With a final score of -11 (205), T12, he walks away with $343,333, a solid payout for his first LIV side bet event.

Steve also landed inside the top 20, with Paul Casey finishing T18 (-9), earning $250,000 to keep himself competitive early on.

Costly Misses – What Could Have Been

For Joey and Kevin, their shared pick of Joaquin Niemann started strong, but a tough final round left him at T33 (-5). The payout of $145,571 wasn’t terrible, but compared to others in the top 10, it leaves them with ground to make up in the coming events.

Rick, who went with Abraham Ancer, struggled in the final round and finished T42 (-3), earning $129,000. Not the worst finish, but not the start he was hoping for either.

And then, of course, we have the zeroes. Aca, Bradan, Brian, and Mike failed to submit picks, meaning they walk away with nothing. While there are no fines in the LIV side bet, this still puts them at a major disadvantage in the money race.

Early Standings – Who’s in Control?

With the first event in the books, here’s how things look:

• Scott (Rahm) – $1,875,000
• Dan (Puig) & Sean (Hatton) – $534,500 each
• Matt (Lahiri) – $343,333
• Steve (Casey) – $250,000
• Joey & Kevin (Niemann) – $145,571 each
• Rick (Ancer) – $129,000
• Four players with $0.00

With big money up for grabs at every LIV event, players who missed out this week will need to get their picks in on time to avoid falling too far behind.

Looking Ahead

The next LIV event is coming up fast, and if this first tournament is any indication, things are only going to get more intense. Will Scott hold onto his lead? Can someone else hit a huge payday to close the gap? And will those who skipped out this week make sure they don’t miss the boat again?

Stay tuned – the race is just getting started!