American Brooks Koepka shot a first round of eight under par 62 in the 54-hole $25 million LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah over the 7,048 yards par 70 Royal Green Golf & Country Club yesterday in Saudi Arabia.
The 32-year-old, four-time major winner, had his first top 10 finish of the LIV Golf season in Bangkok just last week in Thailand.
Starting on hole 15 in this shotgun start format he made birdies on holes 16 and 17, his second and third holes of his round. Five more birdies followed on the front nine on holes 2, 4, 5, 7 and 8 and then another on hole 10 to complete a bogey-free round.
Tough to build rhythm
On completing his round Brooks said: “I think last week was kind of a turning point for me. I’ve worked pretty hard with Claude [Harmon], with Pete [Cowen] and Jeff [Pierce] over these last few months, getting back together with Claude and getting to see Pete a bit more. So, this is the first time I’ve played back-to-back weeks since February. So tough to build a rhythm. I could see it coming. I’m very pleased with it, pleased with last week, and you know, hopefully, just put together two more good rounds.”
Brooks takes a two-shot lead into Saturday’s second round from South African Charl Schwartzel, who shot a six under par 64.
In tied third on five under, three back are Hideto Tanihara (Japan) and Americans Peter Uihlein and Patrick Reed.
Five-shot lead
In the Team Event, captain Brooks and his Smash GC, have a five-shot lead on 15 under par, with three scores counting in a new revised format from this week. A 65 from Peter Uihlein and a 68 from Chase Koepka. Jason Kokrak (70) was the non-counting Team score from the four-player team.
In Saturday, second round the scores are in reverse order, with Brooks teeing off hole one alongside Schwartzel and Tanihara in the 12.15pm shotgun start.
Individual Leaderboard ($20 million prizefund):
B. Koepka (US) 62.
C. Schwartzel (RSA) 64.
H. Tanihara (Japan) 65.
P. Uihlein (US) 65.
P. Reed (US) 65.
Team Leaderboard ($5 million prizefund. Best three scores from the Team of four players).
Smash GC -15.
Torque GC -10.
Niblicks GC -10.
Fireballs GC -10.
