Dubai-based golfer targeting LIV Golf spot

Dubai resident Adri Arnaus will look to secure his place in the 2025 LIV Golf League when he tees off in the second edition of LIV Golf Promotions at Riyadh Golf Club from December 12-14.

The three-day, four-round event, starting Thursday, will see 93 rising stars and seasoned professionals competing for a single spot in the Saudi-backed circuit next season. Additionally, the top 10 finishers, including ties, will earn full exemption into all 2025 events on The International Series, sanctioned by the Asian Tour.

Arnaus, who is based in Dubai, is aiming to secure this life-changing opportunity after losing his DP World Tour playing privileges this season. The 30-year-old first caught the attention of UAE golf fans in 2018 when he delivered a wire-to-wire victory at the Ras Al Khaimah Challenge Tour Grand Final. That triumph saw him finish second in the season-long rankings, earning his DP World Tour card for 2019.

In 2022, Arnaus claimed his first DP World Tour title at the Catalunya Championship, appearing well-positioned for a successful career on the global stage. However, a difficult 2024 season saw him finish 129th in the Race to Dubai standings, resulting in the loss of his tour card. A subsequent attempt to regain his status at Qualifying School fell short, as he finished 69th, with only the top 20 earning exemptions for 2025.

In Riyadh, Arnaus will be joined by host of familiar names, including former Ryder Cupper Chris Wood, Asian Tour No.1 John Catlin, and four of the five players relegated from the LIV Golf League this season: Kalle Samooja, Branden Grace, and brothers Scott and Kieran Vincent.

Arnaus will begin his campaign from round one, where the top 20 players and ties will advance to the next stage. Exempt players like Catlin will join the competition in the second round, where scores will reset before another cut determines the top 20 advancing to the final day. The event culminates on December 14 with an intense 36-hole shootout, during which scores will reset once more.

The ultimate winner will claim $200,000 and a coveted spot in the 2025 LIV Golf League, along with the chance to be signed by a team. Meanwhile, the top 10 finishers, including ties, will gain full exemption for next year’s International Series.

"Building on our first and highly successful LIV Golf Promotions in 2023, the interest has only increased this year as one deserving player will earn the chance to compete in the LIV Golf League,” said LIV Golf Commissioner and CEO Greg Norman.

“The strong interest underscores the significance of creating more opportunities in our global sport to ensure current and rising stars of the game can build their careers and compete at the highest level.”

Among the rising stars taking part are Santiago De La Fuente who won the 2024 Latin America Amateur Championship, 2024 European Amateur runner-up Max Kennedy and Luis Masaveu, a top 20-ranked amateur who recently turned professional.

The lineup for LIV Golf Promotions also includes 23-year-old Fred Biondi, who was the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Individual Champion and finished runner-up in the PGATU rankings, only behind Swedish star Ludvig Aberg.