Malaysia’s Gavin Green opened with a superb six-under-par 64 to take the clubhouse lead midway through the first round of the Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.
The long-hitting Malaysian scorched the fairways of the par-70 Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in the King Abdullah Economic City with a front nine five-under-par 30 and added a back nine 34.
Green is currently in 36th place on the European Tour’s Race To Dubai standings after solid showings in three events.
The second edition of the US$3.5 million event boasts a star-studded field including World No 1 Brooks Koepka, defending champion Dustin Johnson, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia and reigning Open champion Shane Lowry.
Johnson won last year’s inaugural event with a 19-under-par total, two strokes head of China’s Li Haotong.
