Scott Vincent of Smash GC tees off on the 1st hole during day one of the LIV Golf Invitational – London at The Centurion Club. (Photo by John Phillips/LIV Golf/Getty Images/Asian Tour)
Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe and Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai flew the Asian Tour flag with distinction at the opening day of the star-studded US$25 million LIV Golf Invitational, at Centurion Club in London, carding three-under-par 67s to finish the first round in joint third place.
They narrowly trail Charl Schwartzel from South Africa who leads after a 65, helped by an eagle on 18, while his countryman Hennie Du Plessis came in with a 66.
Vincent is attempting to win for the third straight week having claimed the International Series England on Sunday, for his maiden victory on the Asian Tour, a week after claiming the Mizuno Open in Japan.
He was paired in one of the marquee groups today with Americans Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson but handled the pressure with ease.
“It was great out there,” said Vincent, who made seven birdies, including four in the last five holes, and four bogeys.
“It was something that I was very excited to experience. What an honour to play with two of golf’s best players and to see how they operate on the course. Just class guys they are. I really enjoyed myself today. It was fun playing with them and they are really nice guys.
“I was really nervous on the first tee. I hit a great shot there. I was just trying to make good contact on the ball. It’s hard to follow DJ. I wished I went first but I was very happy. It was a great shot. I executed very nicely.”
The 30-year-old, who at the weekend also became the first Zimbabwean to win on the Asian Tour, began his round on the first, in an innovative new tournament format that saw all 48 players tee off following a 2.15pm shotgun start.
He added, “I made some good putts out there. I really took care of the par threes on the back nine. That really got me going. All in all, great day, great experience. Golf has been really good for me the last couple of weeks. But you never know how it’s going to show up in an event like this. Today was a great day, I did a lot of things I wanted to do well. That’s the plan going forward.”
Phachara, just 23 years old, started his round on hole 10, with Japan’s Jinichiro Kozuma and South African JC Ritchie, and was immediately into his usual aggressive stride with four birdies in the first six holes. He led for much of the day before dropping a shot on his last hole, the ninth, before Schwartzel’s eagle.
“I feel great because before I started I did not feel I could be three-under. To get to three-under in this condition I am pretty happy,” said the Thai star.
“I was okay playing today; I have played in many big events so I am used to it. The golf course is difficult on the front nine but easier on the back nine. If I can make a good score on the front nine then I can go under on the back nine and post a good score. The back nine is three par fives and you can reach with your second shots.”
Phachara has been in brilliant form since the Asian Tour restarted at the end of last year: he won the Laguna Phuket Championship in December, which was his maiden victory on the Asian Tour, and was runner-up at the International Series Thailand in March.
He added: “I am playing well, I am just older now, my game plan is better, my swing is better, everything is better. I know so much about golf now because I have been a pro for about eight years.
“My game plan is just hit it to the flag and make birdies and when you miss just make a par. Maybe I can win this week, maybe I can’t, but I have a little chance.”
South Africans Justin Harding and Branden Grace carded 68s to lie in equal fifth, while Johnson returned a 69 along with Mickelson, and England’s Sam Horsfield and Laurie Canter.
A team component is also an exciting feature of this week’s inaugural event and saw Stinger GC take the early lead thanks to strong performances by its members, Schwartzel, Du Plessis, Grace and South African Louis Oosthuizen.
The team leaderboard and the counting scores for Thursday’s first round:
1. STINGER GC (-9) – Charl Schwartzel 65, Hennie du Plessis 66
T-2. HY FLYERS GC (-3) – Justin Harding 68, Phil Mickelson 69
T-2. CRUSHERS GC (-3) – Phachara Khongwatmai 67, Peter Uihlein 70
4. MAJESTICKS GC (-2) – Sam Horsfield 69, Laurie Canter 69
5. 4 ACES GC (-1) – Dustin Johnson 69, Oliver Bekker 70
6. SMASH GC (E) – Scott Vincent 67, Jinichiro Kozuma 73
T-7. TORQUE GC (+1) – Adrian Otaegui 70, Talor Gooch 71
T-7. IRON HEADS GC (+1) – Hideto Tanihara 70, Viraj Madappa 71
9. FIREBALLS GC (+2) – Sergio Garcia 71, James Piot 71
10. CLEEKS GC (+3) – Ian Snyman 71, Pablo Larrazabal 72
11. PUNCH GC (+4) – Wade Ormsby 71, Ryosuke Kinoshita 73
12. NIBLICKS GC (+7) – Oliver Fisher 73, Graeme McDowell 74
