Just when you thought the 2024 season had come to an end on the Asian Tour and The International Series, there was actually more to come. Story from 2024 Asian Tour Yearbook.

Chile’s irrepressible star Joaquin Niemann claimed the season-ending PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, and The International Series Rankings, but not nearly as easily as was expected following a memorable and completely unexpected 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.

All three birdied the first hole of the play-off – played on the par-four 18th – soon after Niemann and Surratt, paired in the last group, both surprisingly bogeyed the last to fall back into a tie with Smith on 21-under.

Joaquin Niemann pictured with the PIF Saudi International and The International Series Rankings trophies on Saturday last year. 

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

“I enjoy being in that position, but there’s times sometimes 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 the 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.

He added: “Yeah, 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.”

Caleb Surratt.

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

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

Said Smith: “I think it was a bonus to even get in there, to be fair, sitting down for an hour and a bit. It was fine. I did what I had to do. Obviously, a shame to miss the putt there, but it is what it is.

“I was thinking my percentage of having a top five was very slim. Yeah, it’s a weird game sometimes. It’s kind of lucky that there wasn’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, just 20-years-old, was attempting to win for the first time as a professional.

The bogey on 18 was his only dropped shot and meant yet another narrow miss on the Asian Tour, following joint third and second place finishes in International Series events in Morocco and England earlier in the year.

“Yeah, 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 really 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 playoff, and I didn’t really find my way this time, and hopefully one day it does.”

Cam Smith.

Campbell claimed fourth place outright following a closing 64 to miss the play-off by one shot, and his chance of winning The International Series Rankings. Claiming the Rankings brings with it playing rights on the LIV Golf League and while he agonisingly missed that, he was later rewarded for his efforts by being asked to play for RangeGoats GC on the league in 2025.

Pictures by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.