LIV Golf: Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson Share Round 1 Lead In Chicago

On a hot and windy day at Bolingbrook Golf Club, LIV Golf players battled the challenging and lengthy course. LIV Golf Chicago’s opening round showcased the League’s superstars asserting their dominance early.

By the end of Round 1, it was Fireballs GC Captain Sergio Garcia who emerged from a congested leaderboard to earn a share of the lead after shooting a 4-under 67. Garcia’s rollercoaster round included eight birdies and four bogeys. Last year, the Spaniard finished T2 at Bolingbrook and figures to be in contention once again this week.

Dustin Johnson, bouncing back from a last-place finish at LIV Golf UK by JCB, shares the lead with Garcia. Reunited with his brother and caddie Austin, who returned this week after missing JCB, the 4Aces GC captain fired a 4-under 67. It could have been lower had he not made bogey on his final hole. After the round, Johnson spoke about the advantage of having his brother with him this week.

"He's been on the bag for a long time now, so when he's not on the bag, it's a little bit different," Johnson said.

Smash GC Captain Brooks Koepka, who hasn’t finished in the top 14 on a LIV Golf leaderboard since the third event of the season at LIV Golf Singapore, got off to a good start and is T3 after shooting a 3-under 68. The five-time major champion made a birdie on the par-5 third hole to begin his round, and he made back-to-back tricky up-and-downs for par on hole Nos. 7-8 to keep his round afloat. He then made three straight birdies on hole Nos. 10-12 to get out in front before a late bogey on the 16th halted his momentum.

Tied with Koepka and squarely in the mix is HyFlyers GC Captain Phil Mickelson, who dazzled the crowd at Bollingbrook, making five birdies in his first 16 holes.