RIYADH: The 2026 LIV Golf season teed off under the lights at Riyadh Golf Club on Wednesday, with stars including Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Dustin Johnson getting proceedings underway in the Saudi capital.

Thomas Detry and Peter Uihlein lead the individual leaderboard after 18 holes, both carding seven-under-par 65s, while Joaquin Niemann’s Torque GC tops the team standings at 15 under. Sebastian Munoz paced Torque GC with a five-under round, though he was unable to match his opening performance from last year, when he shot eight under.

Arab News spoke to LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil on the opening day of the league’s fifth season.

“The start of the season is a bit like that first day of school when you were a little kid,” O’Neil said. “It was wonderful to be out on the course and on the range, seeing the players. A lot of us haven’t seen each other for quite some time, so it was like the first day of school meets a family reunion.”

O’Neil also highlighted the significance of opening the season in Riyadh.

“Riyadh is our showcase event, and I couldn’t imagine a more fitting place to open,” he said. “There’s something special about LIV at night — it’s something you can’t really describe. You actually have to come and see it.”

LIV Golf has seen significant growth since its debut in 2022, despite pre-season concerns after Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed confirmed they would not return for the 2026 campaign. O’Neil said the league’s broader mission remains unchanged.

“We’re so mission driven. I believe if you stick to your values, good things happen,” he said. “All these incredible stars — DeChambeau, Rahm, Mickelson, Cam Smith, DJ — they wake up every day thinking, how can I grow the game of golf overall?”

That influence is now being felt by LIV’s younger players.

“We’re excited to see all these generations coming together and growing the game,” O’Neil added.

He pointed to Michael La Sasso, the league’s youngest player, as an example.

“Think about it from his parents’ perspective,” O’Neil said. “Is this a good place for him, to be mentored by Phil Mickelson? To learn how to practice, how to travel, how to eat, sleep and take care of your body? How to get through jet lag?”

Travel remains a defining feature of LIV’s global model.

“This notion of playing on five continents is something I couldn’t imagine years ago,” O’Neil said.

Heading into Round 1, a major talking point was the Official World Golf Ranking’s decision to award points to players finishing in the top 10 at LIV events. While LIV welcomed the move, it expressed disappointment that points were limited to only the top 10.

Smash GC captain Talor Gooch addressed the issue in his post-round press conference.

“I don’t think the right thing was done, which is what we’ve experienced at LIV for the last four or five seasons,” Gooch said. “Anyone who says the fair thing was done — I don’t think they’re in tune with reality.”

Despite the debate, Gooch praised the atmosphere in Riyadh.

“It’s amazing being here in Saudi Arabia, playing at night. Then going to Australia and playing in the day — it’s pretty special,” he said.

Australian youngster Elvis Smylie, who impressed on his LIV Golf debut, also spoke positively about his first visit to the Kingdom ahead of next week’s LIV Golf Adelaide.

“I really enjoyed my first trip to Saudi Arabia,” Smylie said. “Adjusting my body clock was a challenge, but it was great to be here. It was also nice to meet His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan out there.”

Round 2 tees off on Thursday with a shotgun start at 6:05pm.