The first round at LIV Golf Chicago got underway on Friday at the Bolingbrook Golf Club in windy conditions but it wasn’t an ideal start for Belfast native Tom McKibbin as the 22-year-old finishes his first round at two-over-par in a tie for 41st, one behind Graeme McDowell who shares 28th.
McDowell traded three bogeys with two birdies as he chases valuable ranking points to ensure that he, at worst, remains in the Open Zone at season’s end and is eligible for reselection for the 2026 campaign. At 33rd in the standings, a high finish this week and a strong showing in the final individual event could see the Portrush man push his way into the top 24, guaranteeing his place on a team next year.
McKibbin, who made headlines when switching to the LIV Golf Tour earlier this year, began his day with a sore bogey on the par-4 first hole before adding another fifth.
A birdie on the par-5 14th hole hoped to be the kickstart the youngster needed in his quest finish round one under-par, but a follow up double-bogey at the par-4 16th meant for an uphill battle for McKibbin as he closed out his round. A birdie on the last was needed and McKibbin ensured he got it.
Tied for third are McKibbin’s Legion XIII teammates Tyrell Hatton and captain Jon Rahm who both sit on three-under-par after round one.
Rahm, like McKibbin, began with a bogey, but did well to manage the firm greens and make four birdies in his search for a much-needed win if he is to pip Joaquin Niemann in the race for the $18 million seasonal individual title.
“I need to win regardless… I still would expect him (Niemann) to win that at least in the points. Let’s just hope I can be the one with the most amount of points this week,” said the two-time major winner.
If Rahm wins this week and Niemann finishes no better than 18th, then Rahm takes over the lead entering the decisive event next week at the regular-season finale at LIV Golf Indianapolis.
It’s a good start for the other Spaniard in the field as Sergio Garcia’s four-under-par first round sees him in a tie for the lead as the Fireballs GC captain made eight birdies, showing signs of his early season form.
“I felt like I hit the ball pretty much as well as I hit the ball at the beginning of the year. It just feels like a couple little breaks here and there would be nice once in a while,” said the 45-year-old.
Tied for the lead and looking to forget about finishing in last place at the LIV Golf UK by JCB two weeks ago is Dustin Johnson, as five birdies in nine holes jumped the two-time major winner up the leaderboard.
“Obviously it was really solid… made a few mistakes, hit some really poor wedge shots… But other than that, it was a really solid day,” said Johnson.
It is the second time this season that Johnson has gone from the worst player in one tournament to leading the first round in the next.
A bunched-up leaderboard sees the heavy hitters’ neck and neck with each other as Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau all sit in T3 alongside Rahm and Hatton.
Playing as a wild card this weekend, Anthony Kim is at the bottom of the leaderboard as the 40-year-old struggled with the conditions to shoot an 11-over-par first-round.
Louis Oostuizen’s Stinger GC leads the team scoring at six-under-par, followed by Garcia’s Fireballs GC at five-under.
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