C. Smith up 1 at LIV London after bogey-free day

Cameron Smith shot a bogey-free 63 Friday to complete 8-under-par and take a one-shot lead after the primary spherical of the LIV Golf occasion at Centurion Membership in London.

This week marks the return of LIV Golf to the place it debuted final June, with Charl Schwartzel taking house the title.

Smith completed with eight birdies whereas his Ripper GC teammate and fellow Australian Marc Leishman additionally sank eight birdies however bogeyed the third gap and is one shot again. Smith birdied three straight holes twice: September 11 and 13-15.

“It was simply actually good,” Smith stated of his spherical. “Wasn’t a lot unhealthy stuff in there, to be sincere. Most likely obtained a little bit bit scratchy there by the top of the robust little bit of that entrance 9, however I do not actually put that down to essentially poor swings, form of simply psychological errors. However left them in fairly good spots anyway. All in all, yeah, actually stable.”

Leishman was additionally happy along with his efficiency after 4 straight early birdies.

“Yeah, proud of the day,” he stated. “I did not do an excessive amount of improper. Fairly robust stretch from type of 1 by to about 7 I might say and performed them rather well with just one bogey and a few birdies. Yeah, comfortable to get out of there with a 7-under and a great begin to the event.”

Belgium’s Thomas Pieters of RangeGoats GC is in third, three photographs off the lead after bogeys on the sixth, eighth and seventeenth holes.

Peters’ teammate, Talor Goochwho received final week at Andalucia, sits in fourth, 4 photographs again after posting bogeys on the fourth, twelfth and seventeenth holes.

“This golf course is just not as simple as what (Smith) simply made it look,” Gooch stated. “There’s some difficult pins on the market and a few uncomfortable tee balls.”

Cameron Tringale and England’s Laurie Canter are tied with Gooch at 4-under, whereas Mexico’s Abraham AncerEngland’s Richard BlandSouth Africa’s Brand Grace and India’s Anirban Lahiri are tied at 3-under.

Spain’s Sergio Garciawho had three bogeys and 5 birdies, is amongst seven gamers at 2-under together with James Piot, Jason KokrakSweden’s Henrik StensonChile’s Joaquin Niemann and England’s Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood.

On the staff aspect, Ripper GC — captain Smith, Leishman and Matt Jones — completed 13-under and holds a three-shot lead over RangeGoats GC, which is comprised of Peters, Gooch and captain Bubba Watson. Majesticks GC (co-captains Poulter and Stenson, together with Canter) are 5 photographs again of the lead.