Dustin Johnson backs up PGA Tour claim with early lead at LIV Golf Valderrama

Dustin Johnson and Jason Kokrak shared the early lead at LIV Golf's event at the treacherously difficult Valderrama. 

Only two days after making the claim he was fairly happy not to return to the PGA Tour, Johnson showed his class with an opening round of 4-under 67 in Spain. 

Earlier in the week Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson were asked if they were happy to return to the PGA Tour given the organisation's 'framework agreement' with LIV's Saudi backeres. 

Johnson, predictably, offered a nonchalant response whereas Mickelson dodged the question entirely. 

"I think with this agreement, the only thing that's going to happen is LIV is going to get even better than what it is now, which it's already great," said Johnson. 

He added:

Johnson's round was relatively stress-free, his only blemish coming at No. 6 when he made bogey at the par-3. Elsewhere, he picked up strokes at 9, 10, 11, 17 and 5. 

By day's end Johnson and Kokrak had a one-shot advantage over Anirban Lahiri (68). Elsewhere, Cameron Smith, Talor Gooch, Sergio Garcia and Richard Bland occupied positions within the top-10. 

At the other end of the leaderboard, Sihwan Kim's struggles on the rival league continued as he shot an 11-over 81. Mickelson fought back to card a 72. 

The tournament is being played as:

• Several leading PGA Tour players formed a united front to combat some crazy rumours
• One LIV Golf player expressed uncertainty whether the deal with the PGA Tour will ever happen
• LIV mastermind Yasir Al-Rumayyan reportedly told one player he would be content to bypass one stipulation within the framework agreement

“I hit a lot of quality golf shots and played really solid” @DJohnsonPGA #LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/QirZ2yhMLq

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) June 30, 2023

Full leaderboard

D. Johnson, J. Kokrak -4

A. Lahiri -3

K. Na, T. Gooch, C. Smith -2

R. Bland, S. Garcia, I. Poulter, D. Burmester, H. Stenson, B. DeChambeau, J. Niemann, M. Leishman -1 

Teams

Crushers -4

Ripper -3

Majesticks -2

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