From a Correspondent
Bedminster, New Jersey: For Patrick Reed, it was a hot stretch. For newcomer Henrik Stenson, it was crisp iron play at LIV Golf Invitational Bedminster.
And with both major winners playing true to form, they finished with matching 7-under 64s to share the first-round lead on Friday.
With Reed and captain Dustin Johnson leading the way, 4 Aces GC, winners in Portland, also took a one-stroke lead over Stenson’s Majesticks GC in the team competition.
Reed and Stenson were two shots ahead of Phachara Khongwatmai (Iron Heads GC) at 5 under.
Johnson and Carlos Ortiz (Fireballs GC) were another stroke back on a day in which exactly half of the 48-man field at the par-71 venue broke par.
Hot streak
After a lone bogey of the day, Reed reeled off six birdies during a seven-hole stretch and added one more on his last hole.
It was a continuation of his play in his LIV Golf debut at Portland, where he tied for third after a sizzling final round.
“Just kind of felt like I was putting the ball in the right place,” said Reed, who led the field in fewest putts with 25.
“Around a golf course like this, even though the greens are relatively large, you’ve got to put the ball in the right spots.
“I felt like I left myself below the hole most of the day, so I was able to be aggressive with the putter. With how pure these greens are, once one goes in, it kind of felt like I was able to get on that run.”
Tuned up
Stenson had missed the cut in four of his last six worldwide starts before turning in a round that saw him hit 13 of 14 fairways, and 17 of 18 greens in regulation.
He ran off a string of three consecutive birdies early in his round, and then finished it with two more.
Calling it “the best I’ve played all year,” Stenson said he was pleased with his focus.
“Unlike Patrick, I did end up on the high side a couple of times, and even though I had really short birdie putts, had to be very cautious,” Stenson said.
“The greens are running really quickly. They’re pure and quick, and then you’ve got the slope on top of that.”
The Asian Tour’s Thai star Phachara Khongwatmai fired a 5-under par 66 to hold sole third place on the star-studded Bedminster leaderbaoard.
Phachara was fourth in last season’s Asian Tour Order of Merit that included a maiden win at the Laguna Phuket Championship.
The 23-year-old was four under par on his front nine, with birdies on one, four, eight, and nine.
He came back in one under, with birdies on 13 and 15, with his only bogey of the day on 14.
Phachara’s Iron Heads GC team, led by Kevin Na of the US, are third in the team event behind 4 Aces and the Majesticks.
Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, who carded 70, and fellow-Thai Sadom Kaewkanjana, with a 76, are also in the side.
Stenson was one of four players making their LIV Golf debuts this week. Charles Howell III shot an opening 3-under 68 to give his Crushers GC their best round. (courtesy livgolf.com)
Team leaderboard
| Team | Scores |
| 1. 4 Aces GC (-11) | Patrick Reed 64 Dustin Johnson 67 |
| 2. Majesticks GC (-10) | Henrik Stenson 64 Ian Poulter 68 |
| 3. Iron Heads GC (-6) | Phachara Khongwatmai 66 Scott Vincent 70 |
| T-4. Smash GC (-5) | Brooks Koepka 68 Chase Koepka 69 |
| T-4. Fireballs GC (-5) | Carlos Ortiz 67 Sergio Garcia 70 |
| T-6. Torque GC (-3) | Jinichiro Kozuma 69 Yuki Inamori 70 |
| T-6. Crushers GC (-3) | Charles Howell III 68 Bryson DeChambeau 71 |
| T-8. Stinger GC (-2) | Branden Grace 70 Charl Schwartzel 70 |
| T-8. Hy Flyers GC (-2) | Justin Harding 70 Matthew Wolff 70 |
| T-10. Cleeks GC (-1) | Martin Kaymer 68 Graeme McDowell 73 |
| T-10. Punch GC (-1) | Travis Smyth 69 Matt Jones 72 |
| T-10. Niblicks GC (-1) | Peter Uihlein 70 Turk Pettit 71 |
Also read: Stenson, two others complete LIV Bedminster Invitational field
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