Imagine stepping onto the golf course for the very first time in a high-stakes tournament, your heart racing with a mix of nerves and excitement. That’s exactly what newcomers Thomas Detry and Elvis Smylie experienced as they teed off in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the ROSHN Group LIV Golf Riyadh event. But here’s where it gets controversial—while these fresh faces were making their mark, LIV Golf veteran Peter Uihlein was quietly sharing the first-round lead, sparking debates about experience versus raw talent. Could this be the season where newcomers steal the spotlight from seasoned pros?
On February 4, 2026, under the dazzling lights of Riyadh Golf Club, Detry, the newest addition to the 4Aces GC, delivered a flawless performance with a bogey-free 7-under 65. This tied him with Uihlein, a stalwart of the RangeGoats GC, who has now started an impressive 51 LIV Golf tournaments since the league’s inception in 2022. Meanwhile, Smylie, the 23-year-old prodigy representing the all-Australian Ripper GC, carded a 66, securing solo third place. And this is the part most people miss—Detry’s preparation included practicing under the lights in Abu Dhabi, a detail that likely contributed to his stellar performance.
The tournament also marked a night of firsts: LIV Golf’s inaugural 72-hole round, an expanded 57-player field, and the debut of rebranded teams like the Korean Golf Club and Southern Guards GC. Among the 10 players making their LIV Golf debuts, Byeong Hun An, the new captain of Korean Golf Club, stood out with a 67, tying for fourth place. Michael La Sasso, the 21-year-old HyFlyers GC captain and the league’s youngest player, impressed with a 3-under 69, showcasing his potential with a field-best 341.2-yard drive on the 10th hole.
Teamwise, Torque GC took the lead at 15 under, with the all-South African Southern Guards GC trailing by two shots. Defending champions Legion XIII settled into third at 11 under. Boldly, one might ask—can the newcomers sustain their momentum, or will the veterans reclaim their dominance as the tournament progresses?
The event also marked the first LIV Golf tournament to award Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, a decision met with mixed reactions. While players like Jon Rahm and Talor Gooch acknowledged the progress, they questioned the fairness of the point allocation system. Rahm pointed out, ‘It doesn’t seem fair that only 10 of us get points,’ while Gooch added, ‘Time will tell if the right thing was done.’ Is this a step forward or a half-measure? The debate is far from over.
As the tournament unfolds, one thing is clear: LIV Golf is evolving, with newcomers and veterans alike pushing boundaries. Whether you’re Team Experience or Team Fresh Talent, this season promises drama, excitement, and plenty of golf to talk about. What’s your take? Do the newcomers have what it takes to outshine the veterans, or will experience prevail? Let the discussion begin!
