Opening Round Action in Riyadh

The LIV Golf Riyadh 2025 tournament kicked off with an electrifying Round 1 at Riyadh Golf Club, marking the start of the 2025 season. This event, the first of the LIV Golf League's schedule, brought together top talent under the spotlight in Saudi Arabia. The full highlights video captures the intensity and skill on display as players vied for an early lead in this prestigious competition. With a new format change for 2025, where all four scores count for each team in every round, the stakes were higher than ever, adding drama to every shot.

Standout Performances on Day One

Early in the round, Dustin Johnson made a strong impression, as seen around the 2:30 mark of the highlights. Johnson started with a remarkable 4-under through his first four holes, setting a blistering pace and signaling his intent for the season. His precision and power off the tee were evident, positioning him as a frontrunner from the outset. Posts found on X from LIV Golf also noted his impressive start, reflecting the buzz surrounding his performance.

Other players also shone brightly during this opening round. The video showcases several key moments where golfers executed critical shots under pressure, though specific names beyond Johnson are highlighted in later segments of the footage. The unique format of LIV Golf, with its 54-hole structure, ensures that every stroke counts, and Round 1 demonstrated how quickly the leaderboard can shift.

Key Moments Under the Lights

As the day progressed, the atmosphere intensified with play continuing under the lights, a signature element of LIV Golf events in Riyadh. Around the 5:45 mark, the highlights capture pivotal putts and strategic plays that defined the round's latter stages. The energy of the crowd and the stunning visuals of the course at night added to the spectacle, emphasizing why LIV Golf continues to draw global attention.

The video also hints at the eventual individual title winner, Adrian Meronk, who claimed his first LIV Golf League victory in this event, as noted in posts on X. While the Round 1 highlights focus on the broader field, Meronk's consistency throughout the day laid the groundwork for his success, making his journey one to watch in subsequent rounds.

Team Dynamics and Format Impact

The revised scoring format for 2025, where all four team scores count in each round, brought a fresh layer of strategy to the competition. Teams had to ensure every player performed at their peak, as there was no margin to drop a score in the first two rounds like in previous seasons. This change, announced by LIV Golf ahead of the season, was evident in the cautious yet aggressive approaches seen in the highlights around the 8:10 mark. The team dynamic added intrigue, with alliances like Cleeks GC showing early promise alongside individual brilliance.

The Round 1 highlights from LIV Golf Riyadh 2025 encapsulate a thrilling start to the season, blending individual excellence with team strategy. The event, supported by partnerships like Riyadh Air, underscores the tour's growing prominence in the golfing world.