LIV Golf opened its season this week in Saudi Arabia after a busy season of changes. Gone is the 54-hole format; now they play 72 holes. The stars are gone Brooks Koepka AND Patrick Reed. Phil Mickelson is still in the league, but the first two events are missing. Another one: LIV is actually playing for world ranking points now, albeit some still not excited.
The season opener also has an interesting twist, as this week’s tournament at Riyadh Golf Club is being played under the lights. That’s right – night golf.
A cool feature? Of course! But that doesn’t make it any easier.
“It’s tough under the lights,” Peter Uihlein said Thursday, after his second round. “If you hit it in certain spots and the light is kind of shining on you, the ball is basically black. You really can’t see it. It’s happened to me twice out of the bunker and I chipped it both times. It’s very difficult.
“But for the most part, the reality is that everybody should do it. You just embrace it. I feel like I’ve embraced it well. I love that. I think it’s fun and entertaining and unique.”
You should also come prepared for night golf. Forget golf essentials like extra socks and bandages; you need a flashlight.
Uihlein had to use one on the par-4 9th hole during the second round. His car went into the grass and he cautiously got into trouble – grabbing a flashlight – to assess the damage. But despite trying to stay off the ball, his movements were deemed to have caused him to move. penalty.
“So what you’re saying is that if I move from this point standing right here and the ball moves, I’ve made it move?” he asks a rules official in an Instagram video.
The official nodded.
A frustrated Uihlein — making sure he didn’t move his feet and disturb the ball more — grabbed a club from his caddy, skipped a practice swing and jumped onto the green. He two-putted for bogey and shot a 69 to take the 36-hole lead.
“My ball moved, I think, on 9,” he said afterward. “That had never happened before. So it was a penalty, so it was sweet.”
The good news? The third round is winding down and Uihlein is still near the top of the standings. You can see current results here.
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