LIV debutant Detry and veteran Uihlein share the lead on day one in Riyadh

Thomas Detry of 4Aces GC in action during the first round of LIV Golf Riyadh at Riyadh Golf Club on Wednesday. Image courtesy of LIV Golf.

From a correspondent

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Thomas Detry admitted he felt a little nervous on his LIV Golf debut on Wednesday. So did Elvis Smylie, another newcomer to the league.

However, their performance in the opening round under the lights of the Riyadh Golf Club showed that they are both ready to make some serious noise this season.

Detry, the newest full-time member of 4Aces GC, shot a bogey-free 7 under par 65 to take a share of the lead from Roshn Group LIV Golf Riyadh, along with Peter Uihlein of RangeGoats GC.

Smylie, the 23-year-old rising star who joined the all-Australian Ripper leaderboard, scored a 66 to take solo third.

The two were among 10 players – eight full-timers and two reserves – to play their first-ever LIV Golf rounds.

Byeong Hun An, the new captain of Korean Golf Club, also shone on his debut with a 67 to join a group of six players tied for fourth place.

Impressive debut

Michael La Sasso of HyFlyers GC shot 69 points in his professional debut as the league’s youngest player at 21 years old.

Torque GC retained the team lead at 15 under, with the renamed all-South African Southern Guards GC two shots behind.

Defending champions Riyadh and reigning team champions Legion XIII were in solo third place at 11 under.

Detry and Smylie each hit 10 fairways, tying for the best in the field, while Detry also tied for the lead on the greens in regulation, hitting 17 of 18.

He prepared for playing at night by practicing under the lights with his coach in Abu Dhabi.

“First day back at work, so a bit of a change for me, so a bit nervous,” said the Belgian, whose most recent victory came on the PGA Tour in February last year.

“I rode it so well, it made my job pretty easy.”

Nervous start

Smylie had a bogey on his second hole before finding his rhythm. Five of his seven birdies came on par 4s, tying new Smash GC captain Talor Gooch for the most of any other player on the day.

“I think there was a little bit of nerves and excitement, but I think today I showed what I’m capable of – or tonight, I should say,” Smylie said.

While Detry and Smylie were making LIV, Golf no. 1, Uihlein made starting number. 51 as one of eight original players at every tournament since LIV Golf debuted in London in 2022.

He remains in search of his first LIV victory, although he won two International Series events on the Asian Tour in 2024. Those were each 72-hole tournaments, and Uihlein hopes the switch from 54 holes to 72 starting this season will benefit him.

“I’m not afraid of a blowout every now and then on one hole in particular, so now I have more holes to make up for it,” Uihlein said.

“I think it will benefit me in the long run, which is nice.”

Fresh mentality

Gooch was among the group lurking at 5 under. He has won four individual titles and the 2023 individual championship, all in the previous 54-hole format.

He and the other experienced LIV golfers have had to adjust their mentality.

“It definitely has a completely different vibe,” Gooch said. “Only eighteen more holes, it’s not that much different.

“But even on the range, as we were about to leave, I gave everyone a little fist bump and said, ‘Let’s go get it,’ and Harold (Varner III, his new Smash teammate) said, ‘Hey, don’t come sprinting out of the gate. It’s not a sprint anymore.’

However, it remains serious business, especially with a bevy of newcomers to the expanded field of 57 players determined to make a quick impression even as they adjust to LIV Golf’s high-energy tournament days.

“I think I even really enjoy the concerts and entertainment outside of golf,” Smylie said.

“I feel like I can really thrive in such an environment, and it’s great to start my LIV career here in Riyadh.” (courtesy of LIV Golf)

Leaderboards

Individual (top 10)

T1 (-7) – Thomas Detry, 4Aces (65); Peter Uihlein, RangeGoats (65)

3 (-6) –Elvis Smylie, Ripper (66)

T4 (-5) – Louis 67; Byeong Hun The, Korean (67); Crush (67); Tyrrell Tot, Legion XIII (67); Muñoz, Couple (67); Jon Rahm, Legion XIII (67)

T10 (-4) –Harold Varner III, Smash (68); Yosuke Asaji, wild card (68); Scott Vincent, wild card (68); Bryson DeChambeau, Breakers (68); Abraham Ancer, Torque (68); Sergio Garcia, Fireballs (68); Anthony Kim, wild card (68); Joaquin Niemann, Couple (68)

Teamtop3

1 (-15) – Couple GC (Muñoz 67, Ancer 68, Niemann 68, Orthodox 70)

2 (-13) – Southern Guard (Oosthuizen 67, Burmester 69, Grace 69, Schwartzel 70)

3 (-11) – Legion XIII (Hatton 67, Rahm 67, Surratt 71, McKibbin 72)

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