Matthew Wolff ties LIV Golf record as Smash takes team lead at Greenbrier

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS: After a stretch of high scores and frustrating results, Matthew Wolff produced a round on Friday at LIV Golf Greenbrier more reflective of his immense talent with a 9-under 61 that ties with the LIV-record low.

But after taking a two-shot lead after the first round on The Old White course, the young Smash GC star said that his low score was not any kind of statement, nor a reflection of any drastic change in his approach.

“I just go out here and I give it my best every single day. It's golf,” Wolff said. “It's a rollercoaster, and I'm learning to accept the good and the bad as they come and roll with it. I haven't changed anything.”

The numbers certainly were different for Wolff. In his past three LIV Golf starts, he failed to break 70 and averaged 74.6 per round. His best points finish in that stretch was 44th in Andalucía.

On Friday, all that changed. Starting on the par-3 8th, he opened with a birdie, added two pars, then produced a four-hole stretch that included three birdies and an eagle. He then ended his round with three birdies in his last four holes.

The 61 is the fourth in LIV Golf history, tying the 61s shot by Branden Grace, Cameron Smith and Harold Varner III in Tulsa. Varner shot 7-under 63 on Friday to join David Puig as Wolff’s closest pursuers. Dean Burmester and Cameron Tringale are another stroke back after shooting 64.

Wolff looked more like the player who started the season with three consecutive top-12 finishes than the one who has not scored points in the past six events and dropped to 27th in the season-long points standings. Only the top 24 at the end of the regular season, as well as team captains, are guaranteed spots for next year’s LIV Golf League.

“Everyone