LIV hoping to borrow clubs from caddy friend, shines Q-school leaderboard

There is at least one feeling more helpless and frustrating than arriving at the airport at baggage claim to find that your clubs are nowhere to be found:

Arriving at the airport to pick up your luggage to find that your clubs are nowhere to be found on the night before the biggest start of your life.

Such is the problem José Islas found himself in a few days ago in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Islas, a former Mexican rookie who became a champion earlier this year, flew halfway around the world to play in LIV Golf Promotions’ 72-hole event. The chances of it passing are slim; There are 93 players in the field and, while the top 10 finishers (including ties) will receive full exemptions to the 2025 International Series, only the winner will punch their golden ticket for LIV, where last season 37 players earned more than $3 million school income.

“We play a lot,” Thai Jazz Pro Janewattananond said earlier this week. “That place will definitely change one’s life.”

But first things first: getting to the first tee with your clubs.

For Islas, that piece of math became a challenge when the airline flying to Riyadh (he didn’t say which airline) lost his clubs. You know what they say, though: When life gives you lemons, call your friend, Shane. That’s what Islas did, and Shane, a former English fan living in Riyadh, helped with a set of lenders. “He called here yesterday to bring the clubs,” Islas said Thursday. “So I played a training session with those clubs.”

The irons are Titleist T200s, a far cry from the irons Islas usually plays. “Fat ones with strong shafts,” is how Islas describes his makeshift instruments. He also added that the clubs are also more loyal than his players. Overall, he said: “To the complete opposite.”

But then a funny thing happened. In his first practice round with the clubs, Islas started on the back nine at Riyadh Golf Club. On his second hole of the day (par-4 11th), Islas had 165 yards to the green… and holed an eagle.

On Thursday, in the first round of the Promotions event, the good vibes (and swing) continued. After bogeying his first five holes, Islas reeled off five birdies in a row to five under, which is where he would stay. By the end of the day, Islas was already ahead of Jeunghun Wang.

When asked about his filler clubs, Islas says something interesting.

“I think they’re doing a great job,” he said. “I think it’s not about the clubs — it’s about the way I was thinking [about] the shots I was going to hit. I didn’t expect it at all. I think that’s why it really worked.”

Islas said he tried to play the easiest shots, which is harder than it sounds. “Try to have 18 birdie chances,” he said.

As for his gamer set where is it?

“I’ll go to the airport after this,” said Islas. “I have been fighting with the airline for four days. I hope they will be here.”

And if not, you get the idea that Islas will be fine.