Stefano Mazzoli, double mission accomplished
Mazzoli, results
The Asian Tour è concluded with the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment won by LIV Golf member Joaquin Niemann (263 – 65 66 65 67, -21), who è went the first coin of one million dollars out of a five million dollar prize pool.
The Chilean finished the event, played on the Riyadh Golf Club course (par 71) in the Saudi capital, on par with Australian Cameron Smith (67 64 70 62) and U.S. Caleb Surratt (68 68 61 66), also in the Arab Super League, and then overtook them with a birdie on the second playoff hole.
Stefano Mazzoli took part in the tournament, who, although he went out at the cut by two shots too many (79° with 141 – 73 68, -1), achieved two important goals: he retained the ‘card’ for the ’Asian Tour 2025 (25° in the ’order of merit prerogative of American John Catlin) and will be eligible for the LIV Golf Promotions (Riyadh, Dec. 12-14) where the winner will be admitted to the LIV Golf 2025. All thanks to a first year on the circuit in which he offered numerous good performances, including three top tens in sixteen appearances.
Protagonist of the day Cameron Smith who with a great 62 (-9, nine birdies), the best partial of the round, joined Niemann, leader after three rounds, and Surratt. To the Australian the feat would not have been enough if on the last hole his two opponents had not scored a bogey that produced the playoff. Ball practically in the flag for Niemann’s birdie, but having lost the title, both losers nonetheless didn’t have it so bad, because they received a check for $412,500 each.
Niemann crowned a’great year with his first success on the’Asian Tour and with victory also in the’International Series Ranking (ten events within the’circuit), a ranking in which Mazzoli occupied the 19thª place. The 26-year-old from Santiago, Chile also won two titles on the LIV Golf, which in the palmarès joined two on the PGA Tour, one on the DP World Tour and nine on the Chilean Tour.