In the season-opening LIV Golf event at Riyadh Golf Club, player Peter Uihlein encountered a unique challenge under the lights, leading to a rules penalty. Despite the difficulty, he secured a co-lead after two rounds. The tournament marks several changes for the league, including a switch to 72-hole format.
The LIV Golf league kicked off its new season in Saudi Arabia at Riyadh Golf Club, introducing night golf as a distinctive feature. This opener deviates from previous years with a full 72-hole schedule, up from 54 holes, and now counts toward World Ranking points, though not all players are enthusiastic about the shift.
Notable absences include Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed, who have left the league, while Phil Mickelson remains but is sitting out the first two events. The nighttime conditions add an extra layer of complexity, as Uihlein explained after his second round: “It’s tough under the lights. If you hit it in certain spots and the light is shining kind of right on top of you, the ball is just basically pitch black. You really can’t even see it.”
During the par-4 ninth hole in that round, Uihlein drove into scrub grass and used a flashlight to inspect his lie. His movements caused the ball to move, resulting in a one-stroke penalty under the rules. Questioning the official, he asked, “So what you are saying is if I move from this spot standing right here and the ball moves, I’ve caused it to move?” Despite the frustration, he avoided further disturbance, took his shot without a practice swing, reached the green, and two-putted for bogey, finishing with a 69 to share the 36-hole lead.
Reflecting afterward, Uihlein noted, “My ball moved, I guess, on 9. Never had that happen before. So that was a penalty, so that was sweet.” As the third round concluded, he stayed competitive near the leaderboard's top. The event highlights LIV's push for innovation, blending entertainment with the sport's challenges.
