Australia’s Marc Leishman carded a bogey-free 5-under 65 on Friday to grasp the first-round manage on the LIV Golfing Invitational Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.
The previous PGA Excursion Rookie of the Life leads protecting champ Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Harold Varner III through one stroke within the $25 million usual season-ending tournament at Royal Vegetables Golfing and Nation Membership.
Leishman recorded 4 birdies at the entrance 9 at Nos. 4, 5, 8 and 9 and added every other on the par-4 twelfth hollow in blustery situations at the 7,048-yard direction in King Abdullah Financial Town.
“Yeah, it was pretty tough. A fair bit of wind, and it was nice to be finding the middle of the face,” he mentioned. “I played pretty well today and made a couple of good putts to go along with it. When the conditions are tough like they were today, it’s nice to get a good score on the board, and hopefully I can keep it going for the rest of the weekend.”
Leishman, 39, mentioned his enjoy at the direction, together with a T6 on the Saudi World in February, helped him steer clear of pitfalls.
“(I) gained some confidence, learned how to play the course a bit more and how to read the greens,” he mentioned. “They’re quite tricky greens. I think that’s a big part of success around here is reading the greens and obviously avoiding the trouble. There’s a few holes where there’s places you just can’t hit it.”
Koepka, who received this tournament ultimate while in a playoff with Peter Uihlein, had a extra eventful around than Leishman with 4 birdies, two bogeys and an eagle on the par-4 9th hollow.
“It went in. I don’t know what else to tell you,” Koepka mentioned of his eagle on the 498-yard hollow. “It went in. A little bit of luck involved for any shot to go in, but it was a good shot, too, so it was nice.”
Johnson posted 5 birdies and one bogey at the entrance 9 and 9 pars at the again. Varner birdied 5 of the 1st seven holes, upcoming gave pictures again at Nos. 9 and 11 earlier than completing with a birdie at Refuse. 18.
Charles Howell III, Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa and England’s Richard Bland are secured for 5th within the 48-player garden at 3-under.
Leishman’s Ripper GC and Crushers GC percentage the manage within the group festival at 6-under, one stroke forward of Fireballs GC and 4Aces GC.
