LIV Jeddah: Marc Leishman leads Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Harold Varner III by one shot in Saudi Arabia

Former PGA Rookie of the Year Marc Leishman leads big names in Saudi Arabia, including Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson; The 39-year-old said his experience on the course, including a T6 at the Saudi International in February, helped him avoid pitfalls on Friday.

Australian Marc Leishman recorded a bogey-free 5-under 65 on Friday to take the lead in the first round of the LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

The former PGA Tour Rookie of the Year is one stroke ahead of defending champion Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Harold Varner III in the $25 million regular-season-ending event at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club.

Leishman recorded four birdies on the front nine and added another on the par-4 12th hole in windy conditions on the 7,048-yard course in the King Abdullah Economic City.

“It was pretty tough. Quite a bit of wind, and it was good to find the middle of the face,” he said. “I played pretty well today and made some good putts. When the conditions are tough like today, it’s good to get a good score on the board, and I hope I can continue that for the rest of the weekend.

“I’ve gained confidence, I’ve learned how to play the course a little bit more and how to read the greens. They’re pretty tricky greens. I think a big part of success here is reading the greens and obviously to stay out of trouble. There are a few holes where there are places you just can’t touch.”

Brooks Koepka is tied for second with Dustin Johnson and Harold Varner III

Koepka, who won this event last year in a playoff with Peter Uihlein, had a more eventful round than Leishman with four birdies, two bogeys and an eagle on the par-4 ninth hole.

“It went in. I don’t know what else to tell you,” Koepka said of his eagle on the 498-yard hole. “It went in. It took a little bit of luck to get each shot to go in, but it was also a good shot, so that was nice.”

Johnson made five birdies and one bogey on the front nine and par nine on the back. Varner birdied five of the first seven holes, then gave up two shots in three holes before finishing with a birdie at the 18th.

Charles Howell III, South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen and England’s Richard Bland are tied for fifth out of 48 players at 3 under.

Leishman’s Ripper GC and Crushers GC share the lead in the team competition at 6 under, one shot ahead of Fireballs GC and 4Aces GC.

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