Smylie and Uihlein share the lead for the first-ever fourth round of LIV Golf

Ripper GC co-leader Elvis Smylie speaks at a press conference after the third round of LIV Golf Riyadh at Riyadh Golf Club on Friday. Image courtesy of LIV Golf.

From a correspondent

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: LIV Golf enters uncharted territory at Roshn Group LIV Golf Riyadh on Saturday, and the occasion could include a final-round shootout on both the team and individual rankings.

The competition’s first 72-hole regular season tournament, part of significant adjustments for the 2026 season, concludes with the fourth round at Riyadh Golf Club on Saturday evening.

New LIV golfer Elvis Smylie of Ripper GC and overnight leader Peter Uihlein of RangeGoats GC are tied at 16 under.

Smash GC’s Talor Gooch is just a shot back, the closest pursuer of the 17 players who are within six shots of the co-leaders.

In the team competition, Torque GC – powered by 7-under par 65s from Mexican Olympic teammates Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz – is at 46 under, two shots ahead of Smash.

Ripper, who will be eyeing the home tournament at LIV Golf Adelaide next week, is one shot back.

More time

If the tournament had been played according to the old 54-hole format, Uihlein and Smylie would have had to settle things in a play-off on Friday.

But now the leaders and contenders get 18 more holes to crown a champion.

“Yeah, thanks for bringing that up,” laughed Uihlein, who has played in all 51 LIV golf tournaments and is looking for his first individual title in the competition.

“I feel like 72 holes suits me a little better. If you had told me at the beginning of the week, hey, you would be tied after 54 holes and you have a chance to win, then that’s where you would want to be. I would take that challenge. I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s challenge.”

Smylie, 23, is making his first LIV Golf start after joining the all-Australian Rippers last month, so he has never competed in the 54-hole format.

But he wants to send a message to his new competitors. He said he was in “complete control” of his shots during Friday’s bogey-free 7-under 65.

“Without a doubt, I want to prove my worth in this league, and I want to establish myself as one of the best in this league,” the left-hander said.

“The best way to do that is to make a statement this week.”

Ancer is among a group of players who will now get a fourth round to chase a LIV Golf Trophy instead of having to settle for a high finish.

Welcome opportunity

The new Torque player won his first individual LIV Golf title in the 54-hole format two years ago while playing for Fireballs GC. He welcomes the opportunity to have an extra 18 holes to claim a second title.

“I feel like 54 holes was good enough to find out who plays the best golf,” said Ancer, whose 65 was highlighted by a 50-foot Eagle Putt.

“You just feel like it’s a little more of a sprint, you have a little less time to make mistakes and come back from them.

“But when you play 72 holes, you feel like if you’re a regular player, maybe you can rise to the top of the leaderboard.”

Two of LIV Golf’s steadiest players are Gooch and Legion XIII captain Jon Rahm, who have combined to win individual championships over the past three seasons.

They have each celebrated 13 trophies (individual and team), tying for the most in the history of the competition, and continue to compete for more hardware thanks to the additional fourth round.

Consistent scoring

Gooch, who follows the Rule of 67 – everything takes care of itself by shooting 67 or better – shot his third straight 67 while seeking a fifth individual tournament title.

Rahm shot his second 67 of the week and is tied for fourth place with Ancer, Jason Kokrak of Smash GC and Thomas Detry of 4Aces GC, who – like Smylie – is making his competitive debut in Riyadh.

Despite increased wind and rainy weather on Friday, with players expecting the tougher conditions to impact the score, the field posted the lowest average of the week, nearly 3-1/2 strokes under par during a lively Moving Day in the third round.

“It didn’t feel like it was any easier than yesterday, but everyone was going low,” said Uihlein, who opened his round with four straight birdies on his way to a 66.

“I expect it to be a firefight, but when we get here tomorrow the wind will be fifteen or twenty again, so you never know.”

Ancer added: “I had a feeling the scores weren’t going to be low, and then I got off to a really good start and I thought, ‘Ooh, I’m going to be right at the top,’ and then I thought, ‘Damn, everyone’s shooting really low.’

“That was surprising. I guess it doesn’t matter what the weather is. It feels like we have to make a lot of birdies tomorrow.” (courtesy of LIV Golf)

Leaderboards: Individual Top 10

T1 (-16) – Elvis Smylie, Ripper (66-69-65), Peter Uihlein, RangeGoats (65-69-66)

3 (-15) – Talor Gooch, Smash (67-67-67)

T4 (-14) – Jon Rahm, Legion XIII (67-68-67), Abraham Ancer, Torque (68-69-65), Thomas Detry, 4Aces (65-69-68)

T7(-13) – Jason Kokrak, Smash (71-64-68), David Puig, Fireballs (69-67-67), Thomas Pieters, 4Aces (70-68-65)

T10 (-12) – Sebastián Muñoz, Torque (67-68), Byeong Hun An (67-70-67)

Teamtop3

1. (-46) – Torque GC (Ancer 65, Ortiz 65, Muñoz 69, Niemann 70; Rd. 3 score: -19)

2. (-44) – Smash GC (Gooch 67, Kokrak 68, McDowell 68, Varner III 71; Rd. 3 score: -14)

3. (-43) – Ripper GC (Herbert 65, Smylie 65, Leishman 68, Smith 68; Rd. 3 score: -22)

Also read: Gooch back on familiar territory, LIV shares Riyadh 36-hole lead

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