Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm are among four players tied for the lead at 4-under par following the opening round of LIV Golf Singapore on Thursday, but the leaders should feel far from comfortable.
Lee Westwood of England and Canadian Richard Lee, an LIV wild card, also shot first-round 68s, giving the group a one-stroke lead over seven players tied for fifth place and 10 more who are two back and tied for 12th.
The golfers had to contend with hot and windy conditions at the Sentosa Golf Club, and DeChambeau said a primary goal is “staying competitive with that leaderboard. It’s about hitting better iron shots, better drivers and making sure I’m on those uncomfortable holes comfortable.”
Despite the number of players under par — 30 — the course was made tougher by the wind. Only two golfers played a bogey-free round.
“There’s a lot of trouble out there,” Westwood said. “You don’t have to get much out of position for it to become tricky. Obviously you do get it in the rough, the rough is not that long, but it is flying rough. You lose a lot of control over the golf ball.
“But the golf course is in incredible condition. The greens are some of, if not the best I’ve ever seen, certainly in Asia but anywhere, really. There’s no excuse for missing putts on these greens. You start them on line, they really do hold the line and stay true.”
He was pleased with his no-bogey round.
“I started last week with no bogeys the first round. It’s a good habit to get into, really, first round with no bogeys,” he said. “But this week feels better because the golf course is so demanding.”
Rahm, who had five birdies and a bogey for his round of 68, said putting and accuracy will be the keys this week.
“This golf course is not easy. The greens are firm. They’re very, very good. They’re rolling great,” Rahm said. “So if you’re feeling good with the putter, you can have a lot of good chances. But it’s not easy. You’ve got to hit fairways and be really accurate with the mid-irons.”
Lee won LIV Promotions in January to earn one of three wild-card spots in the league this season. The best finish ever by a wild card is a T12.
“That could possibly change this week,” he said. “I mean, I’ve played this course so many times on the Asian Tour, and I think I have a bit of an advantage on this course knowing where the slopes are and where to miss it. I think it’s going to be a great week.”
The group that stands one shot back after rounds of 69 includes South African Louis Oosthuizen, Tyrrell Hatton of England and Charles Howell III.
Joaquin Niemann of Chile posted a five-stroke win last season in the Singapore event. On Thursday, he shot a 70 to finish in the group of 10 golfers who are two shots off the lead. Others in the group include Tom McKibbin of Northern Ireland, Cameron Smith of Australia and Anthony Kim, who won LIV Golf Australia last month.
In the team competition, Rahm’s Legion XIII is at 11-under, based on his play as well as the scores of McKibbin and Hatton. DeChambeau’s Crushers GC is six strokes back at 5-under.
–Field Level Media
