LIV Golf Hong Kong: strong winds may be Fanling’s only defence as Burmester, Ancer lead assault on course record
- Joint leaders come closest to matching Englishman Aaron Rai’s record of nine-under-par 61, carding bogey-free 63s in the opening round
- Chasing pack has six players on six under and only three shots separate the top 17, while Stinger GC are the top team on a combined 16 under
Hong Kong Golf Club rolled over and let LIV’s galaxy of stars tickle its belly on Friday, and if it doesn’t bare its teeth this weekend Aaron Rai’s 2018 course record is certainly for grabs.
Dean Burmester and Abraham Ancer came closest to matching the Englishman’s nine-under-par 61, carding bogey-free 63s in an opening round that at one stage had 12 players tied for the lead.
The pair are one clear of a chasing pack that has six players on six under, and a top 17 separated by just three shots.
Burmester, captain Louis Oosthuizen (-6) and Branden Grace (-3) combined to put Stinger GC at the top of the team leaderboard on a combined 16 under, although Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC, who won in Jeddah last week, are again breathing down their necks a shot back.
While Cleeks GC pair Kalle Samooja and Martin Kaymer were making the early running, Burmester, who started on 18, finished his first nine at two under, showing little evidence of the fireworks to follow.
But a run of four birdies, either side of an eagle at the par-5 13th, propelled him to the top of an increasingly congested leaderboard.
“I had a slow start, and then went through a stretch there on the back nine where I think I went birdie, birdie, eagle, birdie, birdie, and that eagle putt just caught the right edge perfectly and beautifully,” the South African said.
“When it’s into the wind like that, it’s a good eagle. I’m really happy with the way my day went, obviously, and happy with the way the boys played, too.”
