21 players advance out of first round at LIV Golf Promotions

A total of 21 players advanced out of Friday’s opening round of LIV Golf Promotions, including Jon Rahm’s former college roommate, rising stars from Brazil and Hong Kong, and one golfer playing with borrowed clubs.

Those 21 players now join 28 others who received exemptions into Friday’s second round at Riyadh Golf Club. The leaderboard will be reset, with the top 20 players (no ties) advancing to Saturday’s 36-hole final day. The Promotions winner earns a spot in the 2025 LIV Golf League, while the top 10 and ties receive exemptions into all International Series events next year.

Korea’s Jeunghun Wang, playing in the final group Thursday, birdied his last hole to top the first-round leaderboard with a 7-under 64. “Some lucky shots went in, including some long putts, which helped me play well heading into tomorrow,” Wang said.

Five players shared second by shooting 65, with nine players shooting 66. The final six players advanced on the cutline number by shooting 4-under 67s, eliminating the remaining 43 players from the tournament.

In-form Ian Snyman shot a 65. The South African already has a taste of LIV Golf having played for Cleeks GC in the first two tournaments held during the inaugural 2022 season. Snyman, who finished T9 at International Series Qatar, remained in touch with members of the all-South African Stinger GC team.

“I’ve been talking to Charl [Schwartzel] and Gracey [Branden Grace] and asking how things have changed over the last two years,” Snyman said. “It's exciting. It's something we all want to be part of. I like the team aspect.

“That's why we're here. That's why we're giving it a shot, and we'll see what happens.”

Hong Kong’s rising star, 24-year-old Taichi Kho, was also among the group at 6 under. His round was highlighted by an eagle at the par-5 15th after a 355-yard drive. Kho also advanced from the first round at last year’s Promotions tournament before being eliminated in the second round.

“Last year I couldn't get past the fact that it was a clean reset after round 1,” Kho said. “I remember last year I had a great first round as well, and I felt like I carried on some of those thoughts and feelings as I would do a regular tournament going into the second round …

“Going into tomorrow, it's important for me to just understand it's a completely new day.”

Germany’s Max Rottluff also shot 6-under, with five birdies in his last seven holes. Rottluff played collegiate at Arizona State, where he was the roommate of Jon Rahm, the Legion XIII captain who won the 2024 Individual Championship in his first LIV Golf season. Another roommate was Alberto Sanchez, who is the caddie of Fireballs GC’s David Puig.

“We still talk quite a bit and whatnot, so it would be a dream come true to join those guys,” said Rottluff, who credits Rahm with inspiring him to continue his golf career.

“I was considering giving it up back at the end of '22, and I spent a week with him, and that really kind of straightened out my head and went out and won two times that year on the Challenge Tour,” said the 31-year-old Rottluff. “Kind of went back on a better trajectory again.”

Mexico’s 22-year-old Jose Islas, who turned pro earlier this year and recently won two events on his home country’s tour, is among the group shooting 66.

Islas’ round, which included five consecutive birdies, was manufactured from borrowed clubs from his caddie’s friend after his own equipment failed to arrive in Riyadh.

Brazil’s Fred Biondi, the 2023 NCAA Individual Champion from Florida’s winning team, also posted a bogey-free 66, as did Spain’s 21-year-old Luis Masaveu, a former US Amateur semi-finalist who recently impressed at International Series Qatar.