The forecasts were spot on. A very pleasant Thursday in Hong Kong. The rains from the previous days combined with the absolute absence of wind have turned the first day of the LIV Golf tournament into a dart contest. Birdie opportunities galore. One of those days where pars weigh heavily and a bogey is practically a disaster. Short course, receptive and windless. The birdie paradise.
The king of the dart on this first day was the Mexican Carlos Ortiz (-10). 60 strokes. His finish was out of this world. He went eight under par in his last eight holes, with six birdies and an eagle. The sequence between the 11th and 17th was prodigious. Don’t think he had to sink very long putts. Almost all his successes were shots that landed very close to the flag. Ortiz takes the lead, but there’s still a lot to play for this week. The addition of an extra day in LIV tournaments changes things, especially on courses where very few can be made.
Ortiz has a two-stroke lead over Dean Burmester (-8), a player who always thrives on courses where very low scores are made. Just one stroke behind are Scott Vincent (-7), Younghan Song (-7), Talor Gooch (-7), and Sergio García (-7). The golfer from Borriol once again shows that he feels very comfortable on the old and classic layout of the Hong Kong Golf Club. Let’s not forget he is the defending champion, having won the title just a year ago.
Sergio played with precision. He hit all the greens. A very Sergio-like round when he’s in control. The only hiccup was the tee shot on the 17th. He overshot a bit and ended up not far from the creek that crosses the fairway. It seems more like a miscalculation than anything else. Even so, he managed to save it and also putted for birdie. He is the best-placed Spaniard, although not the only one in the top 10. David Puig (-5), with another stunning finish of four under in the last three holes, also makes an appearance. Well-positioned for the remaining 54 holes.
Jon Rahm (-4) has left himself some ground to make up. He can’t be ruled out, it would be reckless given his ability, but it’s true he seemed a bit anxious and rushed. That’s what happens on days with so many birdies. Every missed opportunity feels like a dagger in the side. It’s not so much the six-stroke lead of Ortiz, perfectly surmountable in three days, but the fact that 15 players are ahead of him, many with great birdie potential.
In any case, this round is yet another demonstration of Jon’s potential. On a day when he wasn’t comfortable, complaining about his iron lines, not being particularly accurate on the greens, he shot 66 and remains perfectly in the fight. He will need three good days, but if anyone can do it, it’s him.
Those who have perhaps fallen too far behind are Josele Ballester (-1) and, especially, Luis Masaveu (+3). Let’s not forget that Ballester is capable of going very low if he has a good day from the tee and on the greens, so let’s see how he finishes on Sunday.
As for the rest of the notable names from the first day of the LIV Golf Hong Kong: Anthony Kim shot -3, Joaco Niemann, with similar feelings to Jon, shot -4, and Bryson DeChambeau, very erratic, finished at PAR.
