Brooks Koepka fired a flawless 8-under-par 62 to take a commanding four-stroke lead after one spherical of LIV Golf Chicago on Friday at Bolingbrook Golf Membership in Illinois.
Koepka began his spherical on the third gap and saved his greatest for final, birdieing 5 of his ultimate six holes — Nos. 15, 16, 18, 1 and a couple of. His mid-length birdie on the sixteenth gap gave him the outright lead at 5 underneath par earlier than he constructed his cushion with the late scorching streak.
Paul Casey of England is alone in second at 4-under 66, and Casey’s Crushers GC teammate, Anirban Lahiri of India, is third at 3-under 67.
Regardless of ending the day with eight birdies and no bogeys, Koepka mentioned he didn’t really feel he struck the ball effectively for the primary seven holes.
“I don’t know what number of fairways (I made) — the stats in all probability weren’t good, however (the misses) had been on the right aspect of the outlet, which helped,” Koepka mentioned.
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“Putted actually good. Felt like I used to be lastly making some putts with the right pace, and it was one of the best placing day I’ve had in a very long time.”
Nobody has gained extra particular person titles on the nascent LIV Golf circuit than Koepka, who captured his fifth general and his second of the 12 months final month at LIV Golf Greenbrier. LIV Golf Chicago is the ultimate occasion earlier than the group championship subsequent week outdoors Dallas.
“Simply enjoying good, I assume. You go on runs, and sadly mine has come on the finish once we’re not enjoying a lot golf,” Koepka mentioned.
Whereas Koepka could pad his win complete on the finish of the weekend, extra of the main target will probably be on the showdown between Spaniard Jon Rahm and Chilean Joaquin Niemann, who’re duking it out for the 2024 LIV title. Rahm, in his first 12 months with LIV, entered Chicago with a slim 2.97-point edge on Niemann within the season standings.
Spherical 1 went to Niemann, although, as he opened with a 2-under 68 (overcoming a double bogey on the par-4 fifteenth), whereas Rahm shot 1-under 69.
“It’s all the time good to play with Jon,” mentioned Niemann, who spent Friday’s spherical with Rahm however gained’t be paired with him Saturday. “I’m going to overlook him. However no, we had a couple of rounds collectively. I loved enjoying with him. It’s a type of, perhaps on Sunday we’d get collectively.”
Crushers took a four-shot lead within the group competitors due to Casey, Lahiri and captain Bryson DeChambeau (2-under 68), who mixed to attain 9 underneath par Friday. 4Aces GC and Smash GC are tied for second at 5 underneath.
Crushers additionally leads the season standings by a half-point over Rahm’s Legion XIII getting into the week.