The LIV Golf season for 2025 gets underway this week as the tour heads to Saudi Arabia for its season opener under the lights in Riyadh and Jon Rahm and his fellow LIV stars are looking forward to the action.
The Riyadh event will play host to one of the first golf tournaments played under floodlit conditions as LIV once again tries to push the boundaries in golf.
For all the criticism LIV have had, night golf has been popular among fans of the top social media stars, with the likes of Rick Shiels, Good Good and more all playing under the lights at some point.
And for LIV’s top stars like Jon Rahm and Cam Smith, the idea of playing in the dark is one that gives them a fresh buzz.
Jon Rahm and Cam Smith give verdicts on LIV Riyadh
Rahm and Smith are very much two of LIV’s top players and both will be desperate to take the very first title under the Saudi lights.
Indeed, according to Rahm, he sees the event being very much like the success F1 have enjoyed.
“From the moment I found out we were going to play under the lights, I’ve been really excited. It’s all about what LIV Golf is all about. It’s innovating and creating a new product for the consumer. It reminds me a little bit to the first few times to a different scale, when Formula 1 decided to go at night. TV looks very, very cool and I hope golf comes out that way, as well,” Rahm commented.
“On my personal experience, it’s really fun to be a part of. It’s so different, so unique that I think we could be having a very special week.
“Obviously we’re all going to have our shortcomings because we’re not used to it. We’ve never done it.
“Back home there’s a par-3 course that is lit at night that you can go and play, but there’s a different between trying to hit a pitching wedge and a driver. It’s a whole different feel. But I think it’s going to be quite special. My biggest thing is being the 6:00 p.m. tee time. We’re so used to by 6:00 p.m. we’re home, almost thinking about dinner and going to bed if you’re not having dinner. So trying to shift that mentality of the schedule, it’s been the most interesting part.
“But I do think it’s really fun. It’s probably the closest feel we’re going to get on a week to what other sports’ athletes get, having those 6:00, 7:00, 8:00 p.m. start times, and I’m all for that. I think it’ll be something special, maybe see more of it.”
Adding his own comments on the night golf, Aussie Cam Smith also expressed his excitement at the evennt.
“Yeah, it’s hard to know what to expect, but like he said, doing everything at night time is a little bit weird. It’s really cool out there. I think it’s very different. The course is going to play a little bit different to when we were here. It’s probably going to play a little bit longer being a bit colder,” Smith added.
“It’s been a challenge, but like I said before, we’ve never really been scared of a challenge. A new challenge is always exciting. I think everyone is really excited to get the year started. It’s definitely been a little bit more of a hype, I think, this week than previous years.”
Cam Smith explains how night golf will affect green reading
One of the big differences between night and day golf is judging the actual course and the distances and in particular, getting used to the greens.
While the game remains the same, the lights do make things a touch trickier, with shadows and differing light patterns to contend with.
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And according to Cam Smith, the greens are going to be one of the most interesting parts of the event.
Yeah, for sure. I think they definitely look different at night time. There’s definitely a few slopes that you can’t see,” Smith said when questioned on putting at night.
“For me, I’m an Aim-Pointer anyway, so I kind of get adjusted with my feet. But I think the biggest thing on the greens is kind of the uphill/downhill, getting the speed right, and with that depth perception, too, just has been a challenge even at the start of the week. Yeah, it’ll be interesting to see how everyone adapts.”
With Smith among one of the better putters in the world, it will be interesting to see if it catches him out or he excels further.
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