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Together with his Open Championship protection looming in two weeks, Cameron Smith appears to be peaking on the proper time. Friday’s opening spherical at LIV Golf London is the most recent piece of proof.
The Ripper GC captain shot a bogey-free 8-under 63 to seize a one-stroke lead over teammate Marc Leishman as LIV Golf made its return to Centurion Membership, the host course for final yr’s inaugural event. RangeGoats GC’s Thomas Pieters is in solo third, three strokes again, whereas red-hot teammate Talor Gooch is in a three-way tie for fourth with HyFlyers GC’s Cameron Tringale and Majesticks GC’s Laurie Canter.
Due to Smith and Leishman, the all-Australian Rippers took the workforce lead at 13 beneath, with the RangeGoats at 10 beneath. The house favourite Majesticks are in solo third at 8 beneath.
Neither Aussie on the high of the leaderboard competed at Centurion Membership final yr, however they each regarded snug on a sun-drenched day outdoors London.
“Wasn’t a lot dangerous stuff in there, to be sincere,” stated Smith, who posted Friday’s solely bogey-free spherical. “… I really feel like I’ve been on this type of development for a number of months now.”
Smith has completed twelfth or higher in his final seven begins, together with high 10s within the PGA Championship and U.S. Open. Though he’s but to win in 2023, Smith is constructing loads of momentum going into Royal Liverpool.
“I feel any event that Cam enters, he’s actually a robust contender,” Leishman stated. “I feel taking part in this week goes to assist him. The wind could be very completely different, I really feel like, in England and Scotland. It’s so much heavier. Getting used to that’s fairly essential.”
Smith navigated the primary six holes, probably the most troublesome stretch at Centurion, in 1 beneath. Beginning with the ninth gap, he birdied seven of the following 9 holes earlier than settling for par on the par-5 18th. He stated the large distinction Friday was getting extra in sync with caddie Sam Pinfold.
“Sam and I labored very nice at the moment, which might be the primary time in a very long time the place we actually caught it out and really talked by way of some pictures,” Smith stated. “Most likely one thing that had type of been a lacking piece to the puzzle. It was good to determine that stuff out earlier than one other large event developing.”
Leishman has struggled to search out consistency this season however began scorching on Friday. After a par on his opening gap, the twelfth, he birdied six of the following seven holes earlier than reaching the hardest a part of the course.
“Blissful to lastly get a rating on the board,” Leishman stated. “It’s been some time.”
The 2 will play within the leaders group on Saturday with Pieters. However the group forward of them will embrace the most well liked LIV golfer in Gooch, who gained his third event of the season final week in Andalucía and opened Friday with 4 birdies in his first 5 holes en path to his eleventh spherical of the season at his goal rating of 67 or higher.
“It was a very good day,” stated Gooch, who has gained the final three LIV Golf tournaments held outdoors the U.S. “This golf course will not be as straightforward as what Cam simply made it look.”
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