LIV Golf Riyadh has raised the curtain on the 2026 season with a demanding and unusual setting: night golf, artificial lighting and an extended 72-hole format that increases both physical and mental demands from day one. In that context, Sergio García has once again delivered one of those performances that may not grab headlines, but carry real weight on the leaderboard.
Two rounds of 68, without a single bogey after 36 holes, place the player from Borriol inside the tournament’s Top 10 and firmly in contention for the leading positions. A start that confirms the positive sensations shown the previous week and reinforces a clear idea: Sergio has begun the season with his game under control.
Consistency, course management and no concessions
On a course that does not forgive mistakes and under uncommon visual conditions, Sergio has built his rounds through patience and sound decision-making. Four birdies in the second round, none conceded, and particularly effective course management in the key stretches of the layout.
What stands out is his ability to add scores without exposing himself, a quality that makes the difference when a tournament is long and the margin for error is slim. It is no coincidence that, after two days of competition, he is yet to record a bogey. A statistic that speaks of experience, but also of preparation.
A tightly packed leaderboard and Sergio well positioned
At the top, the tournament remains extremely close, with several players sharing the lead and a very compact chasing group. In that scenario, Sergio García’s position gains real value: two shots off the lead, with room to attack and no need to force situations.
The 72-hole format, a new feature on the LIV schedule this season, rewards precisely this type of profile: players capable of sustaining their level over several days and of reading when it is time to press and when patience is the wiser option.
Josele Ballester, another story linked to Mediterráneo Golf
Beyond the main spotlight, the Riyadh tournament has also provided the opportunity to see Josele Ballester back in action, another player with a deep understanding of the Saudi course and a career path that connects directly with Mediterráneo Golf, where he was developed as a golfer.
Ballester, who already knows what it is like to win on this course, has had a more uneven start, but his presence in the field underlines an increasingly evident reality: Mediterráneo Golf is not only a competition venue, but also a training ground that leaves its mark on players now competing at the highest level.
Beyond the result, a clear message
Beyond the provisional standings, Sergio’s start in Riyadh sends a clear message. His golf conveys order, calm and competitiveness, three elements that do not always translate into big headlines, but are often present when significant results arrive.
In an ever more demanding circuit with a long calendar ahead, starting the season this way is not just a positive early sign. It is a solid foundation on which to build the year.
Where golf is understood from the inside
That Sergio García competes today with such clarity is not the result of improvisation. Behind it lies method, routine and a very specific way of understanding the game. That same philosophy is felt at Mediterráneo Golf, his home course, and underpins the daily work of the Sergio García Golf Academy.Riyadh is only the first chapter. Many rounds, many tournaments and many moments still lie ahead. But the opening message has already been delivered: Sergio García has started 2026 the way players do when they know exactly where they stand and what their game is about.





















