ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) Jinichiro Kozuma birdied his opening three holes in a bogey-free round of 9-under 63 on Friday, taking a one-stroke lead in the LIV Series golf tournament.
Starting on the 15th hole in the shotgun-style start, the Japanese player made seven birdies and an eagle on the par-5 seventh hole at The Grange, where last year’s debut tournament had one of the highest galleries of the year on the LIV circuit.
According to local media, approximately 40,000 people came on Friday.
“Today my putting was really good, it was really hot,” he remarked. “I had some troubles here and there, but my putting was there to help me get through pars.”
Carlos Ortiz and Danny Lee were tied for second place with 64s, while four others tied for fourth with 65s. Jon Rahm, who joined LIV in December but has yet to win, was among those in the group.
“Obviously on any kind of golf course, if you start the tournament with an 8-under round, it’s very good,” Lee went on to say. “There are plenty of birdie holes out there. Whatever I was doing today, and whatever Jinny (Kozuma) was doing today, turned out very well.”
Ortiz stated that if the wind continues to blow after the rain prior to the competition, “I think it definitely sets up the golf course pretty gettable, especially if you put it in the fairway.”
Joaquin Niemann, the series points leader with two LIV titles this season, debuted with a 67. Talor Gooch, who won the first of three LIV titles last season in Adelaide, shot 68.
The LIV tour returns to Asia next week for the May 3-5 event at Singapore’s Sentosa Golf Club. Then there’s a month-long hiatus before returning to Houston from June 7 to 9.