Rookie Elvis Smylie wins LIV Golf Riyadh, holding off late Jon Rahm rally to claim first title of 2026

There was a stunning finish to the first LIV Golf event of the 2026 season, as Elvis Smylie held off a rampaging Jon Rahm to win by one shot at 24-under in Riyadh. Smylie's Ripper GC also won the team event finishing on 69-under-par, three clear of Torque. You can watch the whole LIV Golf 2026 season live on TNT Sports and discovery+. The second event of the season starts in Adelaide on Thursday.

Highlights: Smylie fends off Rahm charge to secure victory at LIV Golf Riyadh

Video credit: TNT Sports

Rookie Smylie holds off Rahm charge to win

LIV Golf debutant Elvis Smylie edged Jon Rahm in the first tournament of the season in Riyadh.

Smylie seemed certain for victory when he opened up a three-shot lead with two holes remaining.

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But Rahm, playing just in front of him, birdied the 17th, then drove the par-four 18th and just missed an eagle putt.

Smylie's second on the last was a rare disappointing shot on his back nine, leaving the ball just short of the green, but he then produced a clutch putt leaving the ball less than three feet away from the hole.

In the end, Rahm's nine-under 63, the best round of the tournament, was not enough with Smylie clinging on for victory. American Peter Uihlein finished third, two shots behind Rahm.

It was a double celebration for Smylie as his Ripper team - with fellow Australians Cam Smith, Lucas Herbert and Marc Leishman - finished three shots clear of Torque.

A rousing reception surely awaits them when they play the second tournament of the LIV Golf season, which begins in Adelaide on Thursday.

Elvis: It's a dream come true

The Aussies return to Adelaide as champions

As if the atmosphere in Adelaide could be more wild next week, the locals now have their new national sporting hero and his victorious Ripper team to cheer on.

Final LIV Golf Leaderboard

Smylie -24
Rahm -23
Uihlein -21
Ancer -20
Pieters -20
Puig -20
Detry -19
Munoz -18
Herbert -17
Grace -17
An -17

Final LIV Golf Riyadh Teams Leaderboard

Ripper -69
Torque -66
4Aces -59
Fireballs -53
Legion XIII -53

Smylie wins LIV Golf Riyadh!

He holes the putt. What a performance from the 23-year-old Australian.

A fantastic putt!

Smylie puts the ball just past the hole, leaving a three footer to win the tournament. Even Jon Rahm claps him from next to the green.

Smylie has long chat with caddy

And he should have taken his caddy's advice. He was one club light and has left the ball just short of the green. Not an easy two putt.

Smylie's drive just finds the rough

But he should have no problem hitting the green from there.

Smylie holes a four footer

"A downhill left-to-righter is a nightmare," David Feherty said. But the Aussie holes it and a par down the 18th will give him victory.

Rahm millimetres from an eagle

The Spaniard shakes his head as the putt dances around the hole. A birdie makes him just a shot behind.

Rahm drives the green on the 18th!

He has an eagle putt. What a finish this could be! Smyle is on the green on the 17th but faced with a long putt. Longer than Rahm's eagle putt.

Lovely birdie from Rahm on 17th

A very good left to right putt reduces the lead to two once more.

Smylie birdies again...

Of course he does. No nerves at all from a putt just inside ten foot. He is 24-under, three shots clear and surely has this won now.

Ripper extend Team Lead to four

Smith puts away his birdie putt before Ortiz, of Torque, misses his.

Rahm is within two

He is alone in second on 21-under after making a birdie on the 16th, but is running out of holes.

He is human...

Smylie misses a birdie chance on the 15th, but you have to think he's happy three-up with three to play. He then splits the fairway with a wood off the tee on the 16th.

Smylie is three up!

Smylie coolly sinks a 15-footer to extend his lead. Just before Uihlein missed his birdie putt, just as Detry did on the 15th. He is three up with four to play.

Latest Leaderboard

Smylie -22 (with five holes remaining)
Detry -20
Puig -20
Uihlein -20
Rahm -19
Pieters -19

Smylie's Ripper side are also two clear of Torque in the team tournament.

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Smylie disappointed with birdie

It was only 15 feet and fairly straight but he pushed his eagle putt just to the left. Uihleen birdies to go to 20-under.

Another fine approach from Smylie

He has an eagle putt from the heart of the green so should at least restore his lead to two shots here.

Puig and Detry move within one of lead

Puig sinks a 15-footer on the 15th and Detry just misses an eagle putt on the 13th.

Smylie moves two ahead

After missing his birdie chance at the last, he puts this one away. Can anyone stop him now?

Herbert has the clubhouse lead

Smylie's Ripper team-mate's 65 has left him on 16-under. And extends Ripper's lead at the top of the Teams Leaderboard over Torque to three shots.

Smylie hits a perfect approach from 180 yards

He has a prime birdie opportunity while Uihlein is off the green. Puig saves his par with a clutch ten-footer.

Rahm escapes with par from the desert

He needs to start hitting birdies if he is to make a challenge for the lead you feel.

Smylie misses, Uihlein doesn't

Smylie is still on top, but now, after a birdie, Uihlein, Puig and Detry are all close behind.

Puig bags brilliant eagle on 13th!

A big left-to-right putt was nailed bringing him level with Detry in second place on 19-under - one off the lead.

Rookies the story of this event

For now it looks like one of two first-timers, Elvis Smylie and Thomas Detry, will win the event. Last year at Riyadh, the best-place rookie was 15th!

Detry almost holes his approach to 12th

It just misses the hole spinning back and he has a certain birdie, which will put him back just one behind Smylie. He is alone there after Rahm misses his own birdie putt.

Birdie for Smylie...and Uihlein misses a short one!

And Smylie is up to 20-under. Uihlein remains two back in level second spot.

Uihlein close to chipping in

That would have been an eagle but the ball lips the hole and stays out.

Rahm is coming....

And so is Detry. Both players are within a shot of the lead after birdieing the par-five tenth. Smylie is look ing like getting one himself playing behind on the same hole though.

We are at the halfway stage...

And the current leaderboard stands at:

Smylie -19
Uihlein -18
Rahm -17
Ancer -17
Detry -17
Puig -16
Pieters -16
An -16
Gooch -15
Ortiz -15

Uihlein just misses a 35 footer on ninth

He and Smylie both have to settle for pars as they make the turn.

Rahm back within two of lead

He holes a 15-footer on the eighth.

Elvis alone on top again

His third birdie of the round takes him to 19-under, one clear.

Detry into third place

And just a shot behind the leaders after a third birdie in four holes. He goes above Rahm who will be disgusted after having a short chip off the green for an eagle and then missing the subsequent birdie putt.

DeChambeau sinks a monster

A putt from all the way across the ninth green moves him up to 13-under.

Leaders extend lead

Uihlein and Smylie both leave themselves short putts to birdie the fourth and make no mistake. Smylie fairly slammed home a four foot putt, which the hole gurgled before swallowing.

Rahm still on leaders' trail

He left himself a putt inside ten feet and made no mistake.

Uihlein join Smylie at top of leaderboard

He birdied the par-five three to join his playing partner, who could only manage a par.

Early leaders

Smylie -17
Uihlein -16
Rahm -15
Gooch -15
Puig -15
Peters -15

Gooch back to level par for the day

He putts in from off the green to go back to -15, where Pieters, who has moved stealthily through the competition, is also sitting.

Rahm and Puig birdie

They are within two of the lead again. Rahm tapped in on a par five and Puig's fine approach gave him a five foot putt he holed.

Gooch drops a shot

He misses a six footer for par and now joins them at -14, three off the lead.

Ripper ripping the course up

Leishman's three straight birdies, as well as one apiece from Smith, following this chip, and Herbert (and of course Smylie) have lifted the Ripper side to -49 and they are now three in front of Torque at the top of the team competition.

'Leading by example' - Smith pulls off audacious chip shot at LIV Golf Riyadh

Video credit: TNT Sports

Leishman is now tied eight overall and four off his countryman's lead.

Elvis is Number One!

Smylie takes the lead as he slots home a seven foot putt on the first.

Rahm just short of a birdie on the first

He was just too gentle with a downhill putt which had the right line.

All 57 players are on the course now

The leading players have all teed off safely.

How to watch the LIV Golf 2026 season

TNT Sports and its streaming platform discovery+ will broadcast all 14 global events from the 2026 LIV Golf season.

You can subscribe to TNT Sports through discovery+, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.

We are underway...

The first groups have all boomed their drives from their respective tees.

Shotgun start gets underway shortly

The three leading groups begin on the first hole. Pieters, Puig and Kolkak first. Then Rahm, Detry and Ancer, before the leaders Smylie and Uihlein go off along with Gooch.

Hoping Teams tournament goes to playoff

Torque, at -46, are two shots clear of Smash, with Ripper one behind. If they finish level, the team skipper has to pick two players to take on the other team(s) involved on the 18th hole. The aggregate score of the two players decides which team wins.

Gooch reckons another 67 will be enough

With conditions are lot more temperate today, it looks unlikely that finishing on -20 will see him gain victory.

The contenders are on course

We are live on TNT Sports 3

You can watch the action on discovery+.

The Players Groups on Day Four

The Leaderboard going into the final round

Day Three Highlights

Before we focus on the action to come, let's look back at yesterday's thrilling action.

Highlights: Smylie and Uihlein share the lead after Round 3 in Riyadh

Video credit: TNT Sports

Hello and welcome...

Thanks for joining our coverage of the final day of LIV Golf Riyadh, as the competitors look to be the player to put a marker down for the 2026 campaign.

How to watch the LIV Golf 2026 season

TNT Sports and its streaming platform discovery+ will broadcast all 14 global events from the 2026 LIV Golf season.

You can subscribe to TNT Sports through discovery+, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.

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