SINGAPORE: A week after starting the LIV Invitational Adelaide in stunning fashion with back-to-back rounds of 10-under par 62 and then winning the tournament by three shots, American Talor Gooch moved to the top of the leaderboard for the fourth time in four rounds.
On Friday, in the opening round of LIV Invitational Singapore, the 30-year-old from Oklahoma made an eagle putt after a brilliant second shot from 253 yards on the 18th hole to finish on seven-under par 64 and edge ahead of a quality-chasing pack that included reigning Open champion Cameron Smith of Australia, Americans Brooks Koepka and Cameron Tringale, and Spain’s Sergio Garcia.
Major champions Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau and Louis Oosthuizen added glitter to the leaderboard, tied sixth at five-under par 66.
In the team championship, Hy Flyers — with counting scores from Tringale, Mickelson and James Piot (70) — were leading at 12-under, one ahead of the all-South African Stingers. Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel (67) and Dean Burmester (69) made up the Stingers’ score.
Nothing seemed to bother Gooch, who is enjoying the form of his life. There was a two-and-a-half-hour delay caused by a weather system, and there was the stifling heat. Of course, he also had to contend with the Serapong course of Sentosa, considered one of the most difficult championship courses in Asia.
Gooch explained his form: “There’s no pixie dust I’ve thrown on the clubs the last couple weeks. It’s just (that) the game comes and goes in waves.
“I have a buddy of mine, who has been like a mentor to me since I was 10, and he always said, ‘In golf, the penthouse and the outhouse are always right around the corner from each other.’ You try not to get too high or too low when things are too good or aren’t good.
“You’ve got to earn it. These 62s and 64s don’t just happen, and just because you’re confident, doesn’t mean it’s going to happen again. Hopefully, we can keep it rolling and go play some good golf and finish out a good week here.”
Tee times have been advanced for the weekend with more thunderstorms forecast. Shotgun start on Saturday is scheduled at 8:15 a.m. local time (3:15 a.m. KSA) and 8:05 a.m. (3:05 a.m. KSA) on Sunday. Live broadcast starts at 8:00 a.m. (3:00 a.m. KSA) on both days.
