Brooks Koepka sputters to an even-par 72 at LIV Golf’s DC event after his PGA Championship win last week – trailing leader Harold Varner III by EIGHT shots after the first round
- Brooks Koepka was back on the LIV tour after last week’s huge success
- But the American was unable to recapture his best form at Trump National
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Harold Varner III made two eagles on his way to an 8-under-par 64 at Trump National Golf Club Washington, DC, to lead the first round at LIV Golf DC in Sterling, Va.
Varner is two points clear of James Piot (6-under 66), tied for third group at 4-under 68 with Australia’s Cameron Smith, Chile’s Mito Pereira, Kevin Na and Andy Ogletree.
Brooks Koepka, who won his fifth career major title at the PGA Championship on Sunday, opened with an even-par 72.
Varner opened his round with a bogey on the par-3 fourth hole, but quickly shrugged it off. After a birdie tied him back up, he made an eagle 2 on the 317-yard, par-4 ninth hole.
His second eagle came four holes later on the par-5 13th hole. He followed that up with two birdies for a 4-under run in three holes. He caught birdies on the final two par-5s (Nos. 18 and 3) to set the pace.
Brooks Koepka struggled to regain the form that helped him win the PGA Championship last week
Harold Varner III made two eagles on his way to an 8-under-par 64 to lead after the first round
Varner, 32, is looking for his first win on the Saudi-funded LIV circuit. He has had a great career so far, finishing 29th at both the Masters and PGA Championship this season, but his last win was in February 2022 at the Saudi International on the Asian Tour.
Piot and Ogletree are former American amateur winners among the younger pros hoping to make a mark in the fledgling PGA Tour rival league. Piot had seven birdies and one bogey on Friday, while Ogletree had five birdies and one bogey.
Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed were among the names with a tie of 3-under 69. Bryson DeChambeau and Spain’s Sergio Garcia, among others, shot 2-under 70.
Phil Mickelson is in 44th place after an opening 2-over 74.
Varner’s RangeGoats GC is tied with Iron Heads GC for the team competition lead at 10 under. Varner, Talor Gooch (70) and Belgium’s Thomas Pieters (72) made their scores count for RangeGoats, while Iron Heads were fueled by Captain Na, Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent (69) and New Zealand’s Danny Lee (69).