BANGKOK (Thailand) Richard Bland, Branden Grace Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra upstaged their more-illustrious opponents on Friday to shoot 7-under 65s share the lead after the first round of the LIV Golf Invitational-Bangkok.
Marc Leishman and Ian PoulterThey were a stroke behind Kim Sihwan Brooks KoepkaMorgan Jediah and Morgan Jediah were the two remaining participants in the 54-hole event.
The tournament will take place at Stonehill Golf Club in Bangkok. This year, Kyle Phillips, an American designer, designed the course.
Dustin JohnsonThe money leader with just over $12.5 Million in five events is Thierry Henry, who shot 70. British Open champion Cameron SmithThe winner of the LIV event in Chicago in September, he shot 72.
This is the first time LIV Golf has been played outside the United States since the inaugural event in June near London.
Before play began, players were informed that they would not be earning ranking points on LIV series. The Official World Golf Ranking stated Thursday in a statement that it had denied the request of the MENA Tour to add the Saudi-funded series immediately to its schedule.
The OWGR stated that the MENA Tour didnt give it enough notice and that there was not enough time to complete the review before the Bangkok tournament and next week in Saudi Arabia.
LIV Golf formed an alliance to the less-known MENA Tour. Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic, LIV Golf has not held a tournament of its very own. The MENA Tour stands to Middle East and North Africa. It is a developmental tour which has been achieving the minimum world ranking points ever since 2016. It features 54-hole events and a 36-hole cut. The purse is $75,000
I dont think that it was a very effective response. I hate when people sit on the fence. Koepka said Friday, Just pick one side. If its yes, or no, pick one. Thats why I dont like it.
Bryson deChambeauFridays shot of 69 was a victory for.
DeChambeau stated, Weve met all their criteria, so its kind of crazy for us not to receive points – at the least I believe that we have the best players in the world, We believe there are enough top 50 players, so we should be receiving world ranking points. Theyll just keep waiting and holding back if they dont get it.