By: Kacie Albert
NEW YORK CITY – While Kyler Oliver (Roy, Utah) was admittedly nervous heading into the first PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Unleash The Beast Major of the 2022 season, on Saturday night he coolly knocked down the highest marked ride of the young season, capping a flawless 3-for-3 performance, which propelled the 22-year-old to his first elite tour event win at the PBR Monster Energy Buckoff at The Garden, presented by Ariat.
Compliments of the golden finish, Oliver surged to the world No. 1 ranking for the first time in his young career.
“I was really nervous coming into such a big-time event,” Oliver said from the dirt moments after his win. “I tried to keep myself calm and focused on just riding my bulls. Growing up, all my heroes were cowboys and bull riders. I just want to carry on the tradition. It’s a love of mine to just be a cowboy.”
Oliver began Championship Saturday deep down the event leaderboard after finishing 20th in Round 1 courtesy of his 83-point ride on Zero Time (Paradigm Bull Co.).
Undaunted, Oliver was electric in Round 2, winning the round when he outlasted Outlaw (Cord McCoy/Big Sky Bulls, LLC) for 89.75 points.
With the fourth pick in the championship round bull draft, the Utah native elected to go head-to-head with Bentley (Viducic Bucking Bulls) as his final bovine athlete opponent.