Cameron Smith (66) leads LIV Golf event at Trump Bedminster

BEDMINSTER, N.J. — Cameron Smith bounced again from his worst end of the 12 months with a 5-under 66 on Friday, giving him a one-shot lead over Charles Howell III at LIV Golf-Bedminster.

Smith completed thirty fifth final week at The Greenbrier. He had by no means been to the Trump Nationwide course at Bedminster — Smith joined LIV Golf a month after the occasion final 12 months at Trump Nationwide — however he discovered the course and his sport extra to his liking.

“Only a actually stable spherical,” Smith stated. “Wasn’t out of place a lot. Possibly missed just a few fairways, however discovered myself on the inexperienced a lot of the occasions and taking a look at birdie. Just a little bit totally different to final week, which was the aim, particularly immediately.”

Howell had the lead for a part of the day till making two bogeys over his final 4 holes, certainly one of them on a par 5. Howell, like Smith, has one LIV victory this 12 months. He gained the season opener at Mayakoba, however has had solely two prime 10s his final 9 begins.

Bryson DeChambeau, coming off a 58 on the ultimate day at The Greenbrier, was 15 photographs worse at Trump Nationwide. He opened with a 73.

Phil Mickelson acquired off to a sluggish begin with two bogeys on his opening holes. He restricted the errors from there and salvaged a 70.

The spherical got here sooner or later after gambler Billy Walters launched an excerpt from his guide that claimed Mickelson positioned greater than $1 billion in wagers over the past 30 years and wished Walters to put a $400,000 guess on the 2012 Ryder Cup wherein Mickelson performed. Mickelson stated he has by no means guess on the Ryder Cup.

Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed have been at 68. They have been requested what it was wish to have former President Donald Trump following their group for 3 holes.

“Yeah, I’ve identified President Trump for fairly some time,” Johnson stated. “I gained Doral when it was there at Trump. He is in Palm Seashore, so we play a great little bit of golf collectively. We have had a pleasant friendship through the years.”