Marc Leishman of Ripper GC leads by one shot at LIV Golf Jeddah presented by ROSHN. (Photo by Charles Laberge/LIV Golf)
14 OCTOBER, 2023 - SHANK, BY MATT HOOPER/LIV GOLF STAFF: THE RACE FOR THE LIV GOLF LEAGUE TITLE IS STILL OPEN AFTER BRYSON DECHAMBEAU, CAMERON SMITH AND TALOR GOOCH ALL OPENED WITH UNSPECTACULAR ROUNDS AT ROYAL GREENS GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB, NEAR JEDDAH. CAMERON SMITH remains projected to win the season-long Individual title and the $18 million bonus. He shot an even-par 70 and is tied for 22nd with 10 other players, including his closest pursuer, Talor Gooch. The other contender for the season-long title is Bryson DeChambeau, who is tied for 14th after a 69. DeChambeau must finish in the top three to have any shot at finishing No. 1. Gooch and DeChambeau remain projected for No. 2 and No. 3, respectively.
SMITH'S COMPATRIOT AND RIPPER GC TEAMMATE, MARC LEISHMAN, HOLDS THE FIRST ROUND LEAD AT LIV GOLF JEDDAH AFTER AN OPENING 65. THE AUSTRALIAN HAS YET TO WIN A TITLE SINCE JOINING LIV GOLF, AFTER FAILING TO CAPITALISE ON SEVERAL GOOD STARTS TO TOURNAMENTS.
Leishman has raised his level of performances in recent starts, with podium finishes in London (third) and Chicago (second). The credit goes to his putting stroke, with recent work on a putting mirror and string line helping to improve his alignment.
“It certainly helps with making putts when you’re aiming where you think you are,” said Leishman, who is seeking his first individual win since 2020 (although he did win a two-man team event with Smith in 2021). “… I’m glad that it was something so simple and we didn’t have to rebuild the putting stroke.”
“It certainly helps with making putts when you’re aiming where you think you are,” said Leishman, who is seeking his first individual win since 2020 (although he did win a two-man team event with Smith in 2021). “… I’m glad that it was something so simple and we didn’t have to rebuild the putting stroke.”
LEISHMAN HAS WON 6 TIMES ON THE PGA TOUR, WITH HIS MOST RECENT VICTORY COMING IN THE 2021 ZURICH CLASSIC ALONGSIDE CAMERON SMITH IN THE TEAM EVENT. LEISHMAN ALSO WON THE 2015 NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE AT SUN CITY IN DOMINATING FASHION OVER FELLOW LIV GOLF STAR, HENRIK STENSON, AND FINISHED AS RUNNER-UP IN THAT SUMMER'S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, AT THE HOME OF GOLF, ST ANDREWS.
THE CHASING PACK BEHIND LEISHMAN THOUGH ARE EXPERIENCED CAMPAIGNERS IN JEDDAH, WITH DUSTIN JOHNSON HAVING WON 2 SAUDI INTERNATIONALS, HAROLD VARNER III ALSO HAVING LIFTED THE ASIAN TOUR'S FLAGSHIP TITLE, AND BROOKS KOEPKA BEING THE DEFENDING CHAMPION.
4Aces GC Captain Dustin sits one shot back heading into round two of LIV Golf Jeddah presented by ROSHN. (Photo by Chris Trotman/LIV Golf)
A year ago, DUSTIN Johnson arrived at Jeddah having already secured the Individual Champion title. This time, he’s in seventh but has an outside shot at finishing third and claiming the $4 million bonus. But he’ll must win the tournament to have any chance.
“Obviously I would have liked to have played a little better individually coming into here, but it’s golf. You can’t play good all the time. But I still try to,” said Johnson, a two-time winner on Royal Greens at the PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers. “… Still want to have a really good week this week. This is a big event. There’s a lot on the line.”
“Obviously I would have liked to have played a little better individually coming into here, but it’s golf. You can’t play good all the time. But I still try to,” said Johnson, a two-time winner on Royal Greens at the PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers. “… Still want to have a really good week this week. This is a big event. There’s a lot on the line.”
Harold Varner III of RangeGoats GC shot a 66 in round one of LIV Golf Jeddah presented by ROSHN. (Photo by Chris Trotman/LIV Golf)
Varner III won the PIF Saudi International last year when he holed a 90-foot eagle putt on the last hole. On Friday, he led the field with six birdies in tough scoring conditions of high temperatures and wind.
Koepka won LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah last year in a three-hole playoff. The highlight of Friday’s round was an eagle hole-out at the par-4 ninth. Like Johnson, he has a chance to sneak into the No. 3 bonus-paying spot by winning the tournament, depending on how DeChambeau fares.
“I feel comfortable on this golf course,” the Smash GC captain said. “I feel good about it. I enjoy playing in the wind. When it’s very difficult, I enjoy that.”
Koepka won LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah last year in a three-hole playoff. The highlight of Friday’s round was an eagle hole-out at the par-4 ninth. Like Johnson, he has a chance to sneak into the No. 3 bonus-paying spot by winning the tournament, depending on how DeChambeau fares.
“I feel comfortable on this golf course,” the Smash GC captain said. “I feel good about it. I enjoy playing in the wind. When it’s very difficult, I enjoy that.”
THE RACE FOR THE LIV GOLF LEAGUE TITLE GRABS MUCH OF THE ATTENTION THIS WEEK, BUT IT IS THE BATTLE TO STAY IN THE LEAGUE WHICH COULD BE THE MOST COMPELLING OVER THE FINAL TWO DAYS AT ROYAL GREENS. The four players who entered the week in the Drop Zone (45th or lower in the Individual standings) are projected to remain in that position, which leads to relegation from the league. And they could be joined by another player.
Cleeks GC’s Bernd Wiesberger is projected to drop from 44th to 45th, which would put him in the Drop Zone. His captain, Martin Kaymer, could play a part in his fate.
Kaymer entered the week ranked 49th but as a captain, he is exempt from relegation. Kaymer opened with a 2-under 68, which left him tied for 8th on the Jeddah leaderboard. That would give him enough points to overtake Wiesberger for 44th in the standings and push his teammate into the Drop Zone.
None of the four players currently in the Drop Zone are projected to finish with points this week. James Piot and Jediah Morgan are tied for 33rd at 1 over; Sihwan Kim is tied for 41st at 2 over; and Chase Koepka is tied for 46th at 3 over.
Cleeks GC’s Bernd Wiesberger is projected to drop from 44th to 45th, which would put him in the Drop Zone. His captain, Martin Kaymer, could play a part in his fate.
Kaymer entered the week ranked 49th but as a captain, he is exempt from relegation. Kaymer opened with a 2-under 68, which left him tied for 8th on the Jeddah leaderboard. That would give him enough points to overtake Wiesberger for 44th in the standings and push his teammate into the Drop Zone.
None of the four players currently in the Drop Zone are projected to finish with points this week. James Piot and Jediah Morgan are tied for 33rd at 1 over; Sihwan Kim is tied for 41st at 2 over; and Chase Koepka is tied for 46th at 3 over.
Individual standings leader Cameron Smith shot an even-par 70 during the first round of LIV Golf Jeddah presented by ROSHN. (Photo by Montana Pritchard/LIV Golf)
