DJ three off lead at LIV Golf opener as one pro makes a 10 (!) on par-4
Dustin Johnson trails the leaders by three strokes after the first round of the 2023 LIV Golf League season at Mayakoba in Mexico.
Dustin Johnson found himself three strokes off the lead after the first round of the 2023 LIV Golf League season.
Johnson carded an opening round of 3-under 68 at El Camaleón Mayakoba Golf Course in Mexico.
The American won the individual competition in the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series and continued his fine form.
Related: Koepka lifts lid on 'fight' with DJ at Ryder Cup
His round was highlighted by a huge putt on No. 6 and by the end of play his 4 Aces GC were also T-2 in the team format.
Johnson threatened to go lower but back-to-back bogeys at 11 and 12 halted his momentum.
After 18 holes it was Jason Kokrak, of Brooks Koepka's Smash GC and Paul Casey, of Bryson DeChambeau's Crushers GC who were tied at the top.
Both players fired opening rounds of 65 but Kokrak's was faultless. Casey's round of 6-under included a double bogey along with eight birdies.
Peter Uihlein, Talor Gooch, Marc Leishman, Charles Howell III, Branden Grace and Ian Poulter rounded out the top-10.
Despite shifting a huge amount of weight in the off-season, the struggles of Phil Mickelson continued on the course.
Which is the strongest LIV Golf League team on paper this season?
— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) February 23, 2023
The 52-year-old failed to break par. At one stage he was tied for the lead after notching three consecutive birdies but in the end signed for a 72.
More than half the field's 48 players failed to break par at the venue that has previously hosted a PGA Tour event for the last 16 years.
England's Laurie Canter replaced Martin Kaymer in the Cleeks GC side after the German was forced out of the tournament through injury.
Canter's opening round of 79 included a quadruple bogey at No. 12.
Sihwan Kim, of Kevin Na's Iron Heads GC, occupied last place with an opening 82. His round included a 10 (!) at the par-4 18th.
Thomas Pieters, who has signed a $10m deal with LIV, shot an opening 5-over 76.
Once again the total prize purse is $25m, with the winner taking home $4m. The winning team will split $3m.
Team standings after R1
- Crushers GC -10
- Smash GC -7
- 4 Aces GC -7
- Ripper GC -6
- Fireballs GC -4
- Majesticks GC -1
- RangeGoats GC E
- Hy Flyers GC +1
- Stinger GC +1
- Iron Heads GC +3
- Torque GC +5
- Cleeks GC +6
Insane read by @djohnsonpga #LIVGolf @4acesgc_ pic.twitter.com/wrdQNey48t
— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) February 24, 2023
How much they will earn
Win: $4,000,000
2: $2,125,000
3: $1,500,000
4: $1,050,000
5: $975,000
6: $800,000
7: $675,000
8: $625,000
9: $580,000
10: $560,000
11: $540,000
12: $450,000
13: $360,000
14: $270,000
15: $250,000
16: $240,000
17: $232,000
18: $226,000
19: $220,000
20: $200,000
21: $180,000
22: $172,000
23: $170,000
24: $168,000
25: $166,000
26: $164,000
27: $162,000
28: $160,000
29: $158,000
30: $156,000
31: $154,000
32: $152,000
33: $150,000
34: $148,000
35: $146,000
36: $144,000
37: $142,000
38: $140,000
39: $138,000
40: $136,000
41: $134,000
42: $132,000
43: $130,000
44: $128,000
45: $126,000
46: $124,000
47: $122,000
48: $120,000
Team payouts:
Win: $3,000,000
2: $1,500,000
3: $500,000
Next page: Who will LIV sign next?
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