Jon Rahm (PAR) has started with doubts, many doubts, in the defence of his first title in LIV Golf. Exactly a year ago, he was crowned with his first victory in the Saudi circuit, and it seems very uphill to repeat a win in Rochester. The man from Barrika hasn’t played badly, far from it, but he’s missing that certain something that was also absent a few days ago at Royal Portrush.
That certain something has a name and surname. Jon has been on the attack throughout the day. Specifically, he putted for birdie on thirteen of the holes on the course. It’s true that in none of them was the shot given, but the distances weren’t exorbitant either. Specifically, he putted from under six metres on thirteen occasions, and eight of them were less than five, but it was one of those days when the putter wasn’t hot, and the man from Barrika gradually became frustrated. He only holed three. A meagre return.
To make matters worse, the two holes where he missed, the punishment was harsh. Particularly strange was the second shot on the 13th hole. Rahm sent the ball into the water from the centre of the fairway and in an excellent position. He came up short, and the ball got wet; that shot, combined with a very poor approach and a four-metre short putt, forced him to sign a double bogey. He had been attacking for almost three hours, and his card was +1. Jon couldn’t quite believe it; he managed a birdie on the 17th to level with JCB Golf & Country Club. He will have to improve a lot on the second day if he wants to have any chance on Sunday. He is Jon Rahm, and everyone knows what he’s capable of, but he’s going to need a 2.0 version to have his opportunities.
Things have gone better for David Puig (-3). The man from La Garriga has been the best Spaniard in this start of LIV Golf UK with a great initial round of 68 strokes. With four birdies and a solitary bogey, he has placed himself among the top ten in the tournament. Very solid. The Spaniard hasn’t dropped out of the top twenty all year and wants to take another step forward. He is seeking his first podium of the season.
Another piece of good news came from Josele Ballester (-1), who is gradually getting to grips with the circuit. After signing a sensational final round at Valderrama, which was also his first round under par, the man from Castellón has added his second consecutive round beating the course. The path is made by walking, and Josele is settling in a little more each day, even though his round started with two stumbles on the first flags. He managed to recover with three birdies to finish beating the course.
Someone who doesn’t understand doubts is Joaquin Niemann (-6). It’s clear that the Chilean feels very comfortable in the LIV. For the first time all season, he has strung together two consecutive tournaments without knowing victory and wants to win his fifth tournament of the year in England. Joaco is the leader alongside the Pole Adrian Meronk.
Sergio García (PAR), for his part, finished tied with Rochester in a round with few artifices. With a birdie and a bogey on the penultimate flag of the day, he delivered a card of 71 strokes and is six shots off the lead.
