Charl Schwartzel leads after the first round of the LIV Golf Invitational Series. Martin Kaymer and Bernd Wiesberger start only moderately into the controversial tournament.
The mood around the LIV Golf Invitational Series heated up again shortly before the start with numerous news. But then the time had finally come and the controversially discussed tournament of the Saudi Golf League opened its first round with a cannon start at the Centurion Club in London. After the first of three days of the tournament, Charl Schwartzel leads with five strokes under par. Behind him is his compatriot and teammate Hennie du Plessis at 4-under par. Phil Mickelson, who joined the field late, is T7 with -1, just like headliner Dustin Johnson.
For a long time, Phachara Khongwatmai claimed the top spot in the field until Charl Schwartzel made a final spurt towards the end of the round and secured the sole lead with a birdie on his last hole, while Khongwatmai made one of his few mistakes.
The PGA Tour waited until the first players had teed off in London to announce the suspension of participants. The Tour had previously denied the players permission to play in the tournament, which is funded by the Saudi government’s Private Investement Fund (PIF) and with which Greg Norman wants to build a rival tour to the PGA.
Martin Kaymer and Bernd Wiesberger on the Saudi Golf League
Neither Martin Kaymer nor Bernd Wiesberger got off to a particularly good start in the tournament. Martin Kaymer did deserve the honor of the first birdies of the tournament, but that ultimately came to little fruition with a round of +4. Thus he occupies T34 at the beginning of the tournament. Even further behind, Bernd Wiesgerber is alone in 45th place with +7 and thus only three places away from the end of the leaderboard.
Stroke of the day can be none other than this almost albatross by Wade Ormsby, who thus almost caused a sensation on the first event day of the Saudi Golf League.
Almost albatross glory 🫣 📏#PUNCHGC captain @wadeormsby going pin hunting #LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/7cN6b6JvTO — LIV Golf (@LIVGolfInv) June 9, 2022
Top 5 of the LIV Golf Invitational Series
1 – Charl Schwartzel (-5)
2- Hennie du Plessis (-4)
3- Phachara Khongwatmai (-3)
3- Scott Vincent (-3)
5- Justin Harding (-2)
5 – Branden Grace (-2)
In addition to the individual standings, the team standings also played a role in the LIV Golf Invitational Series. Here, the South Africans dominated with Team Stingers led by Louis Oosthuizen, even though the captain showed the weakest performance of his team with +2. But since only the best two results of a team on Thursday and Friday are included in the ranking, the team with -9 by Schwartzel and du Plessis easily maintains the lead. Far behind in second place with -3 strokes are the Crushers led by Peter Uihlein. Unsurprisingly, it is Phachara Khongwatmai who brought in the points for this team, along with the team captain who is at Even Par himself. Also in 2nd place is Mickelson’s team of Hy Flyers, which Mickelson’s three birdies in four holes towards the end of the round put him ahead, as well as Justin Harding, who is T5 at -2.