Lee Westwood (-4) and Richard Taehoon Lee (-4) have slipped into the VIP area of LIV Golf in Singapore. They share the restricted zone with two regulars, two whom they never ask the name of to get in, who wear the all‑inclusive LIV wristband tattooed on their wrist. They are, of course, Jon Rahm (-4), who else, and Bryson DeChambeau (-4). Four leaders after the first round at the Serapong course of the Sentosa Golf Club.
The presence of Westwood and Lee on these fringes is not usual. The Englishman, who has been enjoying a sensational early retirement since LIV’s curtain‑raiser, has posted two top‑10s in the last three years. He has got used to fighting every year to avoid the bottom places of the individual standings, although he always manages to finish the job just before the buzzer. It brings to mind Cádiz of Carmelo, Kiko and Quevedo. No one knew how, but they always managed to survive.
As for Richard T Lee, a 35‑year‑old Canadian of Korean origin, he has finally found in 2026 the reward for a complex sporting life, of pick‑and‑shovel work, of shorts and long sleeves, of sweat in Southeast Asia. He turned professional at just 17, after finishing runner‑up in the US Junior Amateur and playing the 2007 US Open through qualifying. Canada and Korea mix well for golf. He was on his way to stardom, but he fell halfway there.
The PGA Tour became an insurmountable wall and he did not hesitate to pack his bags and return to his roots to make a living on the Asian circuits, whether in Japan, Korea or China. Lots of travel, lots of effort, many quiet hours of practice for very modest prize purses to finally reach the LIV oasis. In reality, he did not arrive — he stormed it. Because his performance at the Saudi qualifying school in January was stunning. His case is proper meritocracy. They’ll have to elbow him out of there.
They are the two outsiders in a leaderboard otherwise typical for LIV. Rahm and DeChambeau are already up there, with other usuals in the top 10, who, while not the other two, are more often present than absent, such as Louis Oosthuizen (-3), Tyrrell Hatton (-3) or Thomas Detry (-3). Rahm has returned to very solid golf, but above all he has really looked different. It was no mere figure of speech to say he had taken a weight off his shoulders. The win in Hong Kong has rejuvenated him. He has lost tension in his face, relaxed that defiant look every time a putt that he considered a birdie chance slipped away.
Rahm has shown he can be ruthless when he plays angry — imagine what he’s capable of when he’s relaxed. Today’s 67 has a lot to do with that frame of mind. The Serapong Course is a very tense layout, with narrow tee shots and plenty of lurking water. It’s a minefield for someone running short on patience. In a bit of science‑fiction conjecture, we’d say that two weeks ago, before refilling his mental‑resilience tanks in Hong Kong, his round today might have been 70-71. That’s exactly where Joaco Niemann (-2) is walking now, teetering on that fine wire between anxiety and frustration. He’s keen to prove that all the changes he made to his team in the second half of 2025 were the right move. But we already know how badly haste can turn out.
Apart from Rahm — again up there, again sinking good putts, again with more than notable irons, with masterful touches in the short game (a 7‑iron chip or a bunker exit at 18) — the rest of the Spaniards have not been able to beat the course today. Sergio García (+1) missed needing another birdie, David Puig (+1) made a few too many mistakes after a sensational start of three birdies in four holes, as did Josele Ballester (+2). Finally, Luis Masaveu (+5) is finding it hard to feel comfortable on LIV.
The Sentosa Golf Club never disappoints. The rain has held off in recent days and it is playing firm and tough. It’s dangerous and you have to be very precise and have a bit of luck on your side. Ask Bryson DeChambeau, who still doesn’t know how his ball didn’t end up in the water on the 15th. He is the leader, but he hasn’t had his best game. That’s what these beasts are like.
