Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Chilean Joaquin Niemann completed arguably the finest season of his career by winning the US$5 million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers following a memorable play-off victory, filled with drama, against Cam Smith and Caleb Surratt.

Niemann made a brilliant birdie, off the back of an exquisite lob shot to a foot, on the second play-off hole to triumph at Riyadh Golf Club, after both Smith and Surrat missed theirs from close range.

The victory, worth US$1 million, also saw him claim The International Series Rankings, after an incredibly close finish to the race.

The result denied an Asian Tour player a direct route to LIV Golf for the first time, after Scott Vincent and Andy Ogletree played their way onto the roster in 2022 and 2023.

But with another golden ticket up for grabs in the LIV Golf Promotions event at the same venue from December 12-14, the players at the top of the rankings still have plenty to play for.  

Niemann, Surratt and Smith all birdied the first hole of the play-off – the par-four 18th. Shortly before that, Niemann and Surratt, paired in the last group, both unexpectedly bogeyed the last to fall back into a tie with Smith on 21-under.

Niemann, the leader at the start of the day by one, closed with a four-under 67, Surratt shot a 66 while Smith, seemingly out of the running playing in the sixth from last group, stormed through with a 62.

It was a thrilling finish to the season-ending event on the Asian Tour and The International Series, which is also the most lucrative event of the season.

“I enjoy being in that position, but there’s times that it takes a little bit longer. It was a good day. Caleb and me, we played great,” said Niemann, who plays on the LIV Golf League for Torque GC.

“Never thought we were going to be in a play-off with Cam Smith. He was early. An hour before us when he was done. I thought we were going to stay away from 21-under, but you never know in golf.”

He got off to the perfect start with birdies on the first three holes and appeared on course for the win before dropping a shot on 14. On the 18th he found trouble off the tee and hacked his second out of some small trees and into the fairway before missing a tricky five-footer for the outright win.

Surrat made bogey after pushing his tee shot into the lake on the right. It was a calamitous finish in contrast to Smith who made birdie there.

Niemann added: “It’s a really good way to wrap up the season. I’m really excited for what’s coming next season on LIV and hopefully get into a few Majors.”

His success meant American Peter Uihlein and Ben Campbell from New Zealand finished second and third on The International Rankings, respectively.

It also marked Niemann’s second win of the season in Saudi, as he claimed the LIV Golf Jeddah in March shortly after winning LIV Golf Mayakoba.

Said Smith: “It was a bonus to even get in there, sitting down for an hour and a bit. It was fine. It was a shame to miss the putt there (play-off), but it is what it is.

“I was thinking my percentage of having a top five was very slim. It’s lucky there weren’t any beers in the clubhouse because I would have had a few, I think. It’s a weird game sometimes, and you never really know what’s going to happen.”

Surratt, aged 20, was attempting to win for the first time as a professional. The bogey on 18 was his only dropped shot and means yet another narrow miss on the Asian Tour, following joint third and second place finishes in International Series events in Morocco and England this year.

“It’s a tough pill to swallow,” said the American, who plays for Legion XIII on the LIV Golf League.

“I’ve been really close a few times this year in The International Series, and I fought hard this week because I didn’t get off to a great start.

“I did all I could do. I hit six perfect golf shots in the play-off, and I didn’t really find my way this time. Hopefully one day it does.”

Campbell missed out on the play-off, and the chance of a place on next year’s LIV Golf League that comes with winning The International Series Rankings, by one shot after closing with a 64.

Englishman Tyrell Hatton, in with a 67, claimed solo fifth, one back from Campbell.