The opening round of LIV Golf Adelaide delivered thrilling action at The Grange Golf Club, with Sam Horsfieldsurging to the top of the leaderboard and Torque GC setting the pace in the team competition. Meanwhile, Patrick Reedstole the show early with a spectacular hole-in-one at the tournament’s famed Watering Hole.
Horsfield’s Bogey-Free Round Sets the Standard
On a day when scoring proved challenging, Majesticks GC’s Sam Horsfield produced the only bogey-free round, carding a 6-under 66 to claim the solo lead. The English golfer has been in strong form, making just one bogey in his last 60 holes, dating back to LIV Golf Riyadh, where he finished tied for 12th.
“I feel like I’m playing really, really good,” Horsfield said. “Played solid last week. It’s just nice to see that momentum from last week carry over and be able to put a low one out there today and try to do more of the same this weekend.”
Torque GC Takes Control in Team Standings
With Joaquin Niemann and Carlos Ortiz both firing 67s, Torque GC finished the round at 8 under, securing the top spot in the team leaderboard. Ortiz had held the solo lead at one point before dropping a couple of late bogeys, while Niemann briefly shared the lead before a bogey on his penultimate hole.
Despite the setbacks, both players were energised by the Adelaide crowd.
“It’s unbelievable,” Ortiz said. “The people here are great. The music is even better. This is probably my favorite tournament I’ve ever played on.”
Niemann, who has a strong history in Australia, echoed the sentiment.
“The Australian crowd is really good. They kind of like me a little bit, I think, and you can feel the energy,” he said.
Leaderboard – Team Standings After Round 1:
- Torque GC (-8)
T2. Fireballs GC (-6)
T2. Legion XIII (-6)
T2. 4Aces GC (-6)
T5. Stinger GC (-5)
T5. Crushers GC (-5)
Reed Delivers LIV Golf’s Latest Hole-in-One
The highlight of the day belonged to Patrick Reed, who thrilled the crowd with a hole-in-one at the 151-yard par-3 Watering Hole, just 20 minutes after the shotgun start. Using an 8-iron, Reed’s ace marked the ninth in LIV Golf history, drawing comparisons to Chase Koepka’s famous ace at the same hole two years ago.
“It’s awesome to give the fans what they want,” said Reed, who now has five competitive aces (six overall) in his career. “That’s why we want to be out here: Golf, but louder.”
Despite the incredible moment, Reed finished with a 1-over 73, as the rest of the leaderboard took shape with strong performances from Dustin Johnson (68), Bryson DeChambeau (68), and Brooks Koepka (69).
Ripper GC Faces an Uphill Battle
Despite massive support from their Australian fans, defending champions Ripper GC struggled to make an impact, finishing the day at +3, a full 11 shots behind Torque GC.
With two rounds remaining, all eyes will be on Horsfield as he looks for his first LIV Golf title, while Torque GC aims to maintain their lead. Meanwhile, stars like DeChambeau, Johnson, and Niemann remain in contention, promising an exciting weekend ahead in Adelaide.
