Friday’s round marked the 100th competition day in LIV Golf history, and day one of the LIV Golf Greenbrier saw Torque GC’s Sebastián Muñoz take the early advantage on a weather disrupted Friday in West Virginia.
With his 25th spot on tour leaving the joint leader just outside the Lock Zone spots, he made his intentions clear that he wants in. He went around to shoot a seven-under 63 and is tied for the lead with 2023 individual champion, Talor Gooch and Jason Kokrak.
“Ball-striking. Ball-striking was great,” said overnight leader Muñoz, about his opening round.
“I was in the fairway a lot. I was on the greens a lot. I gave myself three really close putts for birdie, which is always nice, and just rolled it.”
John Catlin came into the week to replace the absent Graeme McDowell, and he went straight to business, justifying his inclusion with a solid start of four-under 66. He went around blemish free as he deputised for the former US Open champion.
“It’s always good to have a day where golf is easy,” said Gooch, who hit all 18 greens in regulation while holing out for eagle at the par-4 fifth.
“Golf hasn’t been as easy this year as it was last year, so hopefully we can have a couple more easy days coming up.”
While mathematically eliminated from defending his Individual title, he still has an outside shot of playing his way into the top 3. He entered this week ranked 11th in points.
Muñoz’s Torque GC team captain and Order of Merit leader Joaquin Niemann has work to do if he wants to wrap up the individual title at the Greenbrier. The Chilean went around bogey free and with three birdies to card a three-under 67 for round one. This leaves him in a tie for 20th and with room to attack over the final two days.
Niemann’s biggest rival for the title, Legion XIII team captain Jon Rahm is one of those in the following pack, tied for fourth after an impressive opening salvo of 64. Should Niemann come back to win, Rahm would have to finish second to keep the individual portion of the League alive into the final week of the season in Chicago.
Saturday in White Sulphur Springs is expected to bring more inclement conditions for the field to contend with, and the decision was made to bring forward the round two start time two hours to 11.15am in West Virginia. Muñoz will be joined by his co leaders Kokrak and Gooch away from the first for the shotgun start. One hole ahead, Jon Rahm and Koepke are joined by Matt Jones, with all three on six-under-par. OOM leader, Niemann will get his second round underway from the 16th tee with Mickleson and Stenson for company on day two.
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