Former Malaysian Open champion, Matteo Manassero of Italy shot a brilliant 62 at the opening round of the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers. With a red-hot putter and laser irons, the 28-year-old took advantage of perfect scoring conditions to sink eight birdies for a two-shot lead at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club.
“It was one of those days in which everything was going my way. I was playing really solid, giving myself a lot of birdie chances, a lot of really short ones,” said Manassero.
Matteo Manassero of Italy shot an opening 62 to take the lead on the first day of the PIF Saudi International at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on February 3, 2022 in Al Murooj, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Oisin Keniry/Getty Images)
“Nine-under would have been my lowest score in competition, so I did try to make that putt on 18, but I misread it. This is the first tournament I’m out with this new putter which I changed during lockdown. I’m curious to see what 2022 has for me which has started well.”
Manassero was two shots clear of a pack of players on six-under that included Sam Horsfield (England), Adri Arnaus (Spain), Harold Varner III (USA), Ryosuke Kinoshita (Japan) and two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson (USA) at the flagship Asian Tour event.
“It’s crazy because we had all of this wind during the practice rounds and then today was a lot less windy,” said Watson. “The golf course is a little easier without the wind so that made it better. With the wind set to come tomorrow we needed to get off to a hot start today – if we then hang on, we could be close to the lead or top 10 going into the weekend.”
Defending champion Dustin Johnson’s superb form in Saudi Arabia continues, with the world number five kicking off his defence with a five-under 65. Playing alongside Johnson was the Asian Tour’s leading player, 19-year-old Korean sensation Joohyung Kim, who also carded an impressive 65 on his Saudi International debut.
“I think I had some nerves in the first couple holes. But I got into a good mindset and felt calm after a couple holes,” said Kim.
Joohyung Kim of South Korea tees off on the 10th hole during day one of the PIF Saudi International at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on February 3, 2022 in Al Murooj, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Luke Walker/WME IMG/WME IMG via Getty Images)
“It was awesome (playing with Johnson) I hope the TV got my smiles because I was having the time of my life. It was awesome playing with those guys, and just a great experience. I told myself there’s a reason I’m playing with these guys, and I know I worked really hard to get to this point.”
US stars Matthew Wolff (-5), Patrick Reed (-4) and world number seven Xander Schauffele (3-under par 67) were other notable performances from the world’s top stars.
Malaysia’s sole representative Gavin Green shot an even-par 70 for tied 56th position with 10 others including Spain’s Sergio Garcia.
Othman Almulla was the leading Saudi Arabia player on Thursday with 3 over par, 73 with Saud Al Sharif and Faisal Salhab both on +5 as they look to make tomorrow’s cut.
“I think I take a lot of positives with some of the saves that I made to keep myself in it around par, and then just need to keep going and keep learning from these experiences,” said Almulla.
“It’s all about being optimistic and looking forward to tomorrow, right? I can always do better.”
For more information about the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, visit www.saudiinternational.com.
International TV times for the tournament can be found here.
Scores after round 1 of the Saudi International being played at the par 70, 7048 Yards Royal Green GCC course (am – denotes amateur):
62 – Matteo Manassero (ITA).
64 – Sam Horsfield (ENG), Adri Arnaus (ESP), Bubba Watson (USA), Harold Varner III (USA), Ryosuke Kinoshita (JPN).
65 – Dustin Johnson (USA), Joohyung Kim (KOR), Phachara Khongwatmai (THA), Shiv Kapur (IND), Joaquin Niemann (CHI), Matthew Wolff (USA).
66 – Rashid Khan (IND), Richard T. Lee (CAN), Bio Kim (KOR), Patrick Reed (USA), Jason Kokrak (USA), Rattanon Wannasrichan (THA), Henrik Stenson (SWE), Lucas Herbert (AUS), Cameron Smith (AUS), Tommy Fleetwood (ENG).
67 – Xander Schauffele (USA), Shubhankar Sharma (IND), Jarin Todd (USA), Todd Baek (USA), Brad Kennedy (AUS), Phil Mickelson (USA), Berry Henson (USA), Tyrrell Hatton (ENG), Takumi Kanaya (JPN).
68 – Sadom Kaewkanjana (THA), Ian Poulter (ENG), Laurie Canter (ENG), Shane Lowry (IRL), Tony Finau (USA), Jhonattan Vegas (VEN), Pablo Larrazabal (ESP), Doyeob Mun (KOR), Bjorn Hellgren (SWE), Jovan Rebula (RSA), Abraham Ancer (MEX), Steve Lewton (ENG), J.C. Ritchie (RSA), Paul Casey (ENG), Wade Ormsby (AUS), Jazz Janewattananond (THA), Ryo Hisatsune (JPN).
69 – Louis Dobbelaar (AUS), Thongchai Jaidee (THA), Eduard Rousaud (ESP), Mathiam Keyser (RSA), Andrew Dodt (AUS), Poom Saksansin (THA), Ratchanon Chantananuwat (am, THA).
70 – Hongtaek Kim (KOR), Kevin Na (USA), Scott Hend (AUS), Gavin Green (MAS), Natipong Srithong (THA), Travis Smyth (AUS), Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP), Rikuya Hoshino (JPN), Jaco Ahlers (RSA), Sergio Garcia (ESP), Paul Peterson (USA).
71 – Veer Ahlawat (IND), Sihwan Kim (USA), Justin Harding (RSA), Yoseop Seo (KOR), Jack Harrison (ENG), Scott Vincent (ZIM), Yikeun Chang (KOR), Angelo Que (PHI), Lee Westwood (ENG), Daniel Hillier (NZL), Trevor Simsby (USA), Panuphol Pittayarat (THA), Viraj Madappa (IND).
72 – Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA), Koh Deng Shan (SIN), Jason Dufner (USA), Taichi Kho (am, HKG), S. Chikkarangappa (IND).
73 – Graeme McDowell (NIR), Victor Perez (FRA), Othman Almulla (KSA), Danny Masrin (INA), Sebastian Crampton (USA), Chan Shih-chang (TPE), Jbe Kruger (RSA), Bryson DeChambeau (USA), Suradit Yongcharoenchai (THA), Prom Meesawat (THA), Naoki Sekito (JPN), Ben Eccles (AUS), Thomas Pieters (BEL), Neil Schietekat (RSA), Miguel Carballo (ARG).
74 – Siddikur Rahman (BAN), James Hart Du Preez (RSA), Hiroshi Iwata (JPN), Kosuke Hamamoto (THA), Jediah Morgan (AUS), Saleh Ali Al Kaabi (am, QAT), Khalin Joshi (IND), Marc Leishman (AUS), Oliver Fisher (ENG), Cormac Sharvin (NIR), Wu Ashun (CHN), Zach Bauchou (USA).
75 – Ryan Ruffels (AUS), Shergo Al Kurdi (JOR), Josh Hill (am, ENG), Saud Sharif (am, KSA), Rory Hie (INA), Faisal Salhab (am, KSA), Dean Naime (am, EGY).
79 – Tirawat Kaewsiribandit (THA).
