PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico — Paul Casey birdied his final three holes for a 6-under 65 and a share of the lead with Jason Kokrak on Friday because the second season of Saudi-funded LIV Golf started at Mayakoba.
Casey was 5 beneath by means of 10 holes earlier than he misplaced floor with a double bogey on the par-4 second gap. He responded with a hat trick of birdies to shut out his spherical on the El Camaleon golf course on the resort south of Cancun.
Kokrak performed bogey-free, chipping in for one birdie and holing a few prolonged putts.
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They had been two photographs away from Peter Uihlein, Talor Gooch and Carlos Ortiz, certainly one of two Mexican gamers who’re a part of the 48-man LIV roster.
Mayakoba beforehand hosted a PGA Tour occasion within the fall from 2007 till November, when the resort moved over to LIV Golf.
Dustin Johnson, who received the factors record and its $18 million bonus final 12 months whereas main his 4Aces to the group title, was slowed by consecutive bogeys in the course of his spherical. He was a part of the group at 68.
Casey performs for the Crushers, and three of their 4 scores added to 10-under par for a three-shot benefit over Johnson’s squad and the Smash group that’s captained by Brooks Koepka.
LIV precipitated a significant disruption in golf final 12 months by spending some $2 billion in bonus cash to draw huge names. The PGA Tour suspended these gamers, resulting in a lawsuit.
The four-month offseason introduced some extra gamers, although the highest-ranked of the lot was Thomas Pieters at No. 35 on the planet. The Belgian mentioned he solely joined when a spot turned open as a result of Hudson Swafford is having hip surgical procedure and will likely be out for the rest of the season.
Pieters opened with a 76. Not one of the newcomers had been amongst 17 gamers who broke par. Danny Lee had a 71.
Phil Mickelson had three straight birdies early in his spherical however needed to accept a 72.
The 54-hole occasion with a shotgun begin will likely be on linear tv for the primary time Saturday as a part of its broadcast partnership with The CW Community.
