Cam Smith morphed into the Pied Piper, Greg Norman received a rock-star reception and the South Australia Premier welcomed requests for selfies as the biggest crowds seen in Australia for decades vindicated the arrival of LIV Golf Adelaide.
More than 25,000 spectators descended upon The Grange Golf Club to watch reigning Open champion Smith open with a 3-under-par 69 to sit seven strokes off the pace.
American Talor Gooch leads by four after tieing his lowest professional round with a flawless 10-under 62. South Africa’s Dean Burmester and England’s Richard Bland both shot 6-under 66 to be equal second.
Smith was the best of the Australians in a tie for 17th. Marc Leishman shot 71, Matt Jones 72 and Jed Morgan a 4-over 76.
Four-time Major champion Brooks Koepka shot 3-under 69 playing alongside Smith. Of the other marquee Americans, Bubba Watson and Phil Mickelson both carded 70, Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed shot 71 and Bryson DeChambeau posted 1-over 73.
Cleeks GC combined for 16-under par to be in prime position for their first-ever podium finish in the teams competition. Graeme McDowell and Bernd Wiesberger both shot 5-under 67 to complement Bland’s fine round. The all-Australian Ripper GC sits 12 off the pace.
Spectators were six-deep around the 18th green when Smith finished his round. “I don’t think I’ve been nervous that many times in a round before. It seems like every shot, everyone was riding on the back of me. It was good fun but it was kind of stressful, too,” he said.
In a rollercoaster round, Smith was wayward off the tee and scrambled well. Yet he could well have shot lower if the putts had sunk. “From a playing standpoint, I think had two or three lip-outs there on the back nine so it could have easily been another two or three shots. I still feel like I’m really in the tournament, although I think Goochy went out there and shot 10-under … I feel like I got a lot of momentum off the backer today – just need those putts to roll in.”
LIV Golf chief executive officer Greg Norman was mobbed by spectators as he returned to the scene of his first professional victory. One fan yelled out “Thank you, Greg” in reference to bringing top-shelf golf home to a nation deprived of seeing the game’s best players.
Leishman described the atmosphere as “probably as energetic a crowd as I’ve ever played in front of. That rivals being in contention at a Major for sure. Obviously we’re the home team, but all the yelling out at us, and the support, and the Leishman Lagers in the hand all around the course, yeah, it was ridiculous actually. It was really cool. Cool to be a part of.”
Gooch relished the atmosphere as he notched 10 birdies aided by Australian caddie Mal Baker on the bag. “The energy is great. It’s a blast out here today,” said Gooch who started his round on the par-3 party hole.
“My caddie is Australian so we’ve been talking about this event since the moment we heard about it. It was a blast and I think they’re just now starting to get a feel for what LIV is. And I think this weekend is going to be a good time.”
When asked about the Australian-exchange rate given a potential victory, Gooch replied: “No, I’m not at all worried about the exchange rate. I’m worried about maybe the blood-alcohol level Sunday night before we leave Monday.”
