The 2026 season on LIV Golf gets underway this week in Saudi Arabia, with the tour returning to Riyadh Golf Club for just the second time in its history. After a six-month break, the league opens with significant format changes that promise to reshape both the individual and team races. With four rounds instead of three, an expanded field, and a revamped points system, this curtain-raiser feels more consequential than ever.
Check out our preview and betting tips for the event below and if you're keen to tail our tips, consider joining Betfair - a betting exchange that offers the best odds in the country!
LIV Golf Riyadh Betting Tips
Riyadh Golf Club, Thursday 5th - Sunday 8th February
Top Picks
Jon Rahm ($6.75/Top 7 $1.83)
Rahm begins 2026 chasing history. After sweeping both the individual and team titles last season, he now has a chance to become the first player to win three straight individual championships. The expanded points system only strengthens his hand, rewarding elite consistency over four rounds. Rahm’s power, control, and relentless competitiveness make him the benchmark from day one, and Riyadh feels like a venue where he can immediately assert authority.
Joaquin Niemann ($15/Top 13 $1.86)
Niemann remains one of LIV Golf’s most reliable week-to-week performers. His ability to pile up birdies makes him dangerous in a format that now heavily rewards top finishes. With points flowing more aggressively at the top of the leaderboard, Niemann’s upside increases dramatically, making him an intriguing early-season value option.
Value Picks
Adrian Maronk ($81)
The defending champion returns to the scene of his breakthrough LIV victory, where he edged Rahm and Sebastian Muñoz last season. Meronk showed he can go low early and hold his nerve late, even under intense pressure. With more rounds and more points now available, his aggressive scoring ability becomes an even bigger asset. If he settles quickly, he’s well placed to mount a serious title defence.
Cameron Smith ($29)
Smith enters the season looking primed to make an early statement. His creativity around the greens and comfort on fast scoring tracks suit the Riyadh setup, and four rounds give him more runway to let his short game separate him from the field. With team ambitions also front of mind, Smith feels like a strong value play to open the season with momentum.
The Field
The 2026 LIV Golf field expands to 57 players, including five wild cards, marking another evolution for the league. Unlike previous seasons, every finisher will now earn points, though the weighting strongly favours those at the top. This shift places a premium on fast starts and sustained excellence, especially in four-round events.
Team storylines loom large once again. Rahm’s Legion XIII arrive as reigning champions and will be looking to become the first team to defend a LIV Golf title. Elsewhere, established squads such as Ripper GC, Crushers GC and Torque GC all bring balanced rosters capable of pushing early.
The wild card group adds intrigue, headlined by the return of Anthony Kim alongside international talents looking to seize opportunity. With drop zones expanded and pressure increased, every shot this week carries real significance.
The Course
Riyadh Golf Club hosts the first four-round LIV Golf event, a notable departure from the traditional 54-hole format. The added day places greater emphasis on endurance, course management, and avoiding momentum-killing mistakes late in the week.
The layout itself is built for scoring, but it demands discipline. Wide visuals can be deceptive, and players who chase pins recklessly are often punished. Over four rounds, patience becomes just as important as firepower.
With the enhanced points system rewarding elite finishes more than ever, expect aggressive play from the outset. This opening event is not just about lifting a trophy, but about laying down an early marker in a season that now rewards dominance far more than survival.
