The LIV Golf Promotions, or in other words, the Saudi league’s qualifying school, takes place this week from 12th to 14th December at the Riyadh Golf Club course in Saudi Arabia, the same venue that hosted the PIF Saudi International last week, where Joaco Niemann claimed victory.
Three Spanish golfers will be competing: Luis Masaveu, Borja Virto, and Adri Arnaus. All three have received an invitation. The absence of Eugenio López Chacarra is surprising, as he currently does not have a team in LIV for the upcoming season after leaving Sergio García‘s Fireballs.
The full list of participants is as follows:
The format of the LIV School is highly demanding. Those not exempt from the first round, a total of 64 players including the three Spaniards, will play 18 holes, with the top 20 and ties advancing. The following day, another 18 holes will be played with the qualifiers from the first round, as well as the exempt players. The top 20 (without ties) will proceed to the third and final round. On that final day, 36 holes will be played, and the champion will earn the LIV Golf card, while the top ten and ties will secure the rights to play the ten tournaments of the International Series in 2025.
Beyond the Spaniards, the LIV School has not attracted the world’s top players. None of the top 100 from the Official World Golf Ranking or the Universal Golf Ranking, which is recognised by LIV, are present. The highest-ranked player is John Catlin, World Number 132, followed by Ben Campbell, Number 139, likely the main favourites for victory.
Additionally, there are golfers whose careers have waned, such as Chris Wood, who played in the Ryder Cup, Tom Lewis, or David Horsey. Among the younger players, there are some notable presences, such as Mexican Santiago de la Fuente, winner of the Latin America, Fred Biondi, NCAA winner in 2023, or Max Kennedy, runner-up in the European Amateur Championship. Not much more.
As for the Spaniards, it should be noted that Masaveu, Arnaus, and Virto have secured their Challenge Tour card for next year. All three played the DP World Tour School at Infinitum Golf and narrowly missed out on the card. Masaveu arrives with the slight advantage of having already played the course last week at the PIF Saudi International.
