Caleb Surratt surged to the top of the leaderboard at the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, finishing the second round with a bogey-free 66 to hold a one-shot lead over Thomas Pieters. Surratt’s birdie on the 18th gave him a 14-under total heading into the third round at Riyadh Golf Club.

Surratt made two birdies on the front nine and added three more on the back nine to edge out Pieters. The 21-year-old American, representing Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII team on LIV Golf, was seeking redemption after losing in a sudden-death playoff to Joaquin Niemann at last year’s tournament.

Pieters and Kim in contention

Thomas Pieters, who plays for 4Aces GC on LIV Golf, also shot a 66 to remain just one stroke behind Surratt. The Belgian has notched two strong top-four finishes on LIV Golf this season and comes off confidence from top-10 finishes in Hong Kong and Singapore on the Asian Tour.

American Anthony Kim, returning after a 12-year absence from competitive golf, made seven birdies and no bogeys to shoot a 64, moving into third place along with England’s Tyrrell Hatton and Spain’s Josele Ballester, both on 65. Kim last won the 2010 Shell Houston Open and is showing glimpses of his past form.

“Finally seeing some of the work from practice show in tournament conditions,” said Kim. “It feels good to be competitive again and stay comfortable under pressure.”

Top spots open for LIV Golf League

South African Dean Burmester carded a 63, while Poland’s Adrian Meronk and Korea’s Seungbin Choi share sixth place. Meronk was the joint first-round leader with Surratt but now trails by a single stroke.

Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, leader of The International Series, sits six off the pace after a second-round 67, while Filipino Miguel Tabuena is just one shot further back following a 68. With Japan’s Yosuke Asaji missing the cut, the door remains open for Tabuena to secure one of the top two spots to earn a place on the LIV Golf League next year.

Defending champion Joaquin Niemann unexpectedly missed the cut after carding a 69, leaving the final two rounds wide open for Surratt and the challengers.