Asian Tour Book 2024

SOMETIMES IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT LONGER CHILEAN NIEMANN TRIUMPHS AFTER UNEXPECTED DRAMA J ust when you thought the 2024 season had come to an end on the Asian Tour and The International Series, there was actually more to come. Chile’s irrepressible star Joaquin Niemann claimed the season-ending PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, and The International Series Rankings, but not nearly as easily as was expected following a memorable and completely unexpected play-off victory, filled with drama, against Cam Smith and Caleb Surratt. Niemann made a brilliant birdie, off the back of an exquisite lob shot to a foot, on the second play-off hole to triumph at Riyadh Golf Club, after both Smith and Surrat missed theirs from close range. All three had birdied the first hole of the play-off – played on the par four 18th – soon after Niemann and Surratt, paired in the last group, both surprisingly bogeyed the last to fall back into a tie with Smith on 21-under. Niemann, the leader at the start of the day by one, closed with a four-under-par 67, Surratt shot a 66 while Smith, seemingly completely out of the running playing in the sixth from last group, stormed through with a 62. “I enjoy being in that position, but there's times sometimes that it takes a little bit longer. It was a good day. Caleb and me, we played great,” said Niemann, who plays on the LIV Golf League for Torque GC. “Never thought we were going to be in a play-off with Cam Smith. He was early. An hour before us when he was done. I thought we were going to stay away from the 21-under, but you never know in golf.” He got off to the perfect start with birdies on the first three holes and appeared on course for the win before dropping a shot on 14. On the 18th he found trouble off the tee and hacked his second out of some small trees and into the fairway before missing a tricky five footer for the outright win. Surratt made Joaquin Niemann [left and right] made it win number two in Saudi having also won LIV Golf Jeddah. 132 R I YA DH GOL F CLUB D E C EM B E R 4 - 7 | P R I Z E MON E Y: U S $ 5 M I L L I ON