Sam Horsfield (-6) is the first leader of the LIV Golf Adelaide, the second tournament of the Saudi league season taking place at The Grange course, in our antipodes. The English golfer has a one-shot lead over Torque’s Carlos Ortiz (-5), who made more birdies than anyone (9) and was seven under at one point, and Joaco Niemann (-5).
Patrick Reed (+1) is far from the top and we could practically assure that he is not going to win the tournament. It is really unlikely with only 36 holes ahead and so many players in front. However, the 2018 Masters champion was the main protagonist of the first day after scoring a hole-in-one on the 12th, the par 3 named the Watering Hole, which tries to mimic the atmosphere of the 16th at the Phoenix Open of the PGA Tour.
As soon as the ball went into the hole, plastic cups and drinks of all kinds started flying along the entire hole, built in a stadium shape, much smaller than the one at TPC Scottsdale. Reed caused a frenzy, the American enjoyed it greatly, the audience will have a memory they will hardly forget, and LIV already has plenty of images to continue promoting this event and its circuit in general. They’ll put it everywhere. It was more unusual to see members of the 4Aces team, whether managers or communication people, accessing the tee to congratulate Reed. It must be things of the new golf.
🚨 @PReedGolf ACE ON THE WATERING HOLE!
Watch LIVE now on the @foxsports App 📺#LIVGolfAdelaide @4AcesGC_ pic.twitter.com/EIHZXKtsMu
— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) February 14, 2025
From a team perspective, the Spaniards have not started the tournament badly. David Puig (-2), Jon Rahm (-2), and Sergio García (-1) are lurking, well-positioned in the background with many things still to say. Puig and Rahm are one step away from the top 10 and six from the lead, while Sergio is just a bit further back. They have room to manoeuvre to get all three into the battle for victory this Sunday. It won’t be easy, but it’s not impossible. Meanwhile, Luis Masaveu (+1) continues to adapt to the new environment. Today he once again demonstrated his notable birdie ability. His next goal should be to contain the errors. When he achieves this, which he will, he will be seen at the top.
Puig has signed four birdies and two bogeys. His start to the round has been notable. He did everything in the first two-thirds of the round and finished with six consecutive pars. A pity that he missed the birdie on the 18th, a short par 4 with the wind in favour. He hit a superb drive of about 400 metres and reached the green in one. Then he made three putts. Only David, Bubba Watson, and Tom McKibbin putted for eagle from the green.
Rahm, for his part, has managed a good round of two under par. It could have been a better result, but above all, it could have been worse. It wasn’t his best day in approach shots, but he saved when he needed to. His success was committing only one bogey without displaying his usual power from tee to green. Meanwhile, Sergio lacked a bit more finesse with the putter to have been positioned even higher.
As for the top positions, Dustin Johnson (-4), Bryson DeChambeau (-4), or Brooks Koepka (-3) should be considered for the remainder of the tournament. The playing conditions have not been easy. At times, the wind has blown hard, but the course does not have great defence from tee to green. Even losing the fairway, as it barely has rough, you have recovery options. Its great defence is the very undulating greens.
