Dustin Johnson dominates first round of LIV Golf Chicago Invitational with 63
Dustin Johnson is in a strong position to become the first back-to-back winner of the LIV Golf Series after opening the Chicago Invitational with a superb 63.
Two-time major champion Dustin Johnson continued his hot streak of form on the LIV Golf Invitational Series by firing a score of 9-under-par in the first round of the Chicago event.
Off the back of winning the Boston Invitational, Johnson has opened up a three-shot lead over Champion Golfer of the Year Cameron Smith at Rich Harvest Farms.
Starting on the first hole of the shotgun start with Anirban Lahiri and Joaquin Niemann, who he beat in a playoff at the International, he played his first nine holes in 30 shots.
This included six birdies. The 38-year-old added three more on the back nine to complete his score of 9-under-par. He leads Smith and Matthew Wolff in outright third place.
Hear from the leader @DJohnsonPGA #LIVGolf #LIVGolfChicago pic.twitter.com/qcAWBeIUIS
— LIV Golf (@LIVGolfInv) September 16, 2022
Smith made his LIV Golf debut in Boston on September 2, leading the Australian core that commissioner Greg Norman is so keen to build. Smith captains Punch GC made up of Marc Leishman, Matt Jones and Wade Ormsby.
The 29-year-old's bogey-free 66 on Friday was his fourth consecutive round in the 60s on the breakaway series. Ahead of the tournament, Smith was caught laughing at a meme of Rory McIlroy during a practice round.
Wolff, who came tied second at the Bedminster Invitational at the end of July, continued his solid form on the Saudi-backed series. He made four birdies and an eagle on his way to a 67.
The young American made history in the LIV Golf Series when he made the tour's first-ever hole-in-one in the first round of the Boston Invitational a fortnight ago. He went on to finish in tied 13th place.
Behind Wolff are Jones, Charles Howell III and Henrik Stenson. After losing his role as European Ryder Cup captain for the 2023 matches in Italy, the Swede won on his LIV Golf debut in the third event at Bedminster.
.@DJohnsonPGA having himself a field day
https://t.co/Rqj4Ovomgd#LIVGolf #LIVGolfChicago pic.twitter.com/SdPeYEkEpE
— LIV Golf (@LIVGolfInv) September 16, 2022
LIV Golf Chicago Invitational - First round leaderboard:
-9 D Johnson
-6 C Smith
-5 M Wolff
-4 M Jones, C Howell III, H Stenson, L Westwood
-3 C Schwartzel, L Oosthuizen, T Gooch, B DeChambeau
