The PIF Saudi International Returns to Riyadh with a New Energy

Golf, culture, and the spirit of competition come together at Riyadh Golf Club

Images courtesy of PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers

Riyadh Golf Club felt alive this week as the 2025 PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers returned for its seventh edition and its second year in the capital. The tournament arrives as part of the WOW Festival during Riyadh Season, a celebration that blends golf, cars, and entertainment into one dynamic experience. The atmosphere is festive and the field is stacked with some of the biggest names in the sport.

This year’s tournament feels larger in scope and deeper in competitive strength. The numbers tell their own story. Seven major winners with nine titles between them. Forty six Asian Tour winners with more than a hundred victories. All of the top ten players on the Asian Tour Order of Merit. Eighteen LIV Golf winners with thirty three titles. Thirty three nationalities represented. Five past champions. A record group of seven Saudi players teeing it up on home ground: Othman Al Mulla, Saud Al Sharif, Shergo Al Kurdi, Khalid Attieh, Faisal Salhab, Prince Khalid Saud Al Faisel, and Khalid Alqunaibit.

For fans, the competition is magnetic. For Saudi golf, it is a milestone.

Returning champions and rising voices

Defending champion Joaquin Niemann arrived confident and calm, reflecting on the form he brings into the week. “I feel like the game is in a good spot. I feel like I am working in the right direction,” he said, crediting the changes he has made to his team and the support surrounding him.

He was equally struck by the improvements to the course. “I want to congratulate what Golf Saudi has made on the improvements on this golf course. The conditions are unbelievable,” he said. The greens are rolling true and the rough is longer, adding a new layer of challenge. The conditions hint at a week where precision will matter and momentum may shift quickly.

Niemann also spoke about the new energy around the event, shaped by the WOW Festival and Riyadh Season. He noted how the experience blends families, newcomers, and golf fans through concerts, car showcases, and festival programming. “Golf is a pretty new sport for them here. Bringing in all the fans, making it a festival, car shows, I feel like it is going to bring a similar crowd that golf needs,” he said.

Familiar champions return

Two time champion Dustin Johnson, a player who always draws attention, kept his assessment simple. “I have still got a lot of work to do. But I am seeing a lot of good signs,” he said. His presence alone adds weight to the field and the crowd response each year reminds everyone how popular he remains in Saudi Arabia.

Harold Varner III, the 2022 champion, praised the conditions with characteristic ease. “It is in great shape,” he said. “They have done a terrific job of always improving every time we get here.”

A big week for the home players

For the Saudi players, this event carries pride and possibility. Riyadh native Saud Al Sharif spoke openly about what the week means to him. “I am very excited. It is the seventh event and the sixth time I have played here. Now that it is in Riyadh, it is even bigger for me,” he said. With family, friends, and a growing home crowd behind him, he sees this moment as a chance to show the city what the future of Saudi golf looks like.

For Faisal Salhab and the rest of the Saudi contingent, the opportunity to compete alongside major winners and global stars is both challenge and inspiration. Their presence reflects the rapid development of the sport in the Kingdom and the investment in nurturing a generation of homegrown competitors.

A tournament that reflects a new era

As Riyadh Golf Club hosts once again, the sense of momentum is clear. The field is deep. The course is in pristine condition. The festival atmosphere opens golf to wider audiences. And with a record seven Saudi players in the field, this edition feels like a moment that will shape the next chapter of the sport’s growth in the Kingdom.

The PIF Saudi International is more than a championship. It is a snapshot of ambition, talent, and a city that continues to expand what sporting excellence can look like.