Dallas Rd. 1 News and Notes: Garcia in Open exemption driver's seat

LIV GOLF DALLAS ROUND 1 NOTES

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP EXEMPTION UPDATE

Fireballs GC Captain Sergio Garcia remains the projected leader to earn The Open Championship exemption that will be awarded to a LIV Golf player after Sunday’s final round in Dallas. The leading non-exempt player inside the top five in the season-long points race will receive a spot in the Open field next month at Royal Portrush. Garcia shot a 2-over 74 but remains in the top four in the projections. His teammate David Puig climbed into sixth overall in points after a solid 2-over 70.

RELATED: ROUND 1 RECAP | LEADERBOARD | RD. 1 HIGHLIGHTS

A third Fireballs player, Abraham Ancer, also has an outside shot at the exemption, although he must win and hope others above him drop down in the standings. An opening 3-under 69 at least gives Ancer a chance.

“Ever since they announced the exemptions, it's been in my mind,” Ancer said. “Obviously you're always trying to perform the best and be obviously at the highest you can on the leaderboard, on the points list. I would definitely love to do really well the next two rounds and hopefully have a chance for that spot. I know it will be tough, but mathematically it's a possibility. I'm going to give it my all and see where it takes me.”

THE DALLAS GUYS

Crushers GC Captain Bryson DeChambeau, who attended SMU and lives in nearby Grapevine, shot an even-par 72 that included three birdies and three bogeys. The two-time U.S. Open champ went back to his Avoda irons that he first put in play at the 2024 Masters and used up until LIV Golf Virginia. The LA Golf prototypes lasted just two starts.

Torque GC teammates Sebastian Munoz and Carlos Ortiz, who reside in Dallas, did not fare as well. Muñoz shot a 4-over 76 and is tied for 42nd while Ortiz – making his first start since a T4 at the U.S. Open, his career-best result in a major – shot a 79 and is tied for 50th.

REED SEEKS TEXAS WIN

4Aces GC star Patrick Reed – born in San Antonio, and a long-time resident in Houston – has played more than 25 professional events without a victory. Asked when the last time he won a tournament in his home state, Reed replied: “Junior golf, probably. It’s been a while.”

But he’ll enter this weekend tied for the lead and seeking his first win since joining LIV Golf at its first U.S.-based event in Portland in 2022.

“It would mean a lot, obviously, to win in your home state,” said Reed, whose last career win was the Hong Kong Open in November, when he shot a 59. “But really to me, honest, it doesn’t matter where it is. Winning a golf tournament is winning a golf tournament.

“The adrenaline and that feeling of standing up on stage and hoisting the trophy is an amazing feeling. It doesn’t really matter where you’re at or anything like that. But doing it in my home state would be special for sure.”

G-MAC’S PUTTER

Smash GC’s Graeme McDowell continues his recent run of good form, shooting a 70 that left him tied for fifth. McDowell ranked first in strokes gained putting on Friday, gaining +3.34 strokes on the field. It was his second-best putting round of the year and fourth-best of his LIV Golf career.

McDowell’s first podium result came in the previous event in Virginia when he tied for second. That week, he ranked second in the field in putting.

PUIG’S HOT START

Fireballs GC’s David Puig came out of the gate fast after missing the previous tournament in Virginia with a back issue. Puig was 5 under through his first six holes, with an eagle and three birdies. But then he gave all those strokes back on the next six holes with a double and three bogeys. Puig ultimately finished with two birdies to shoot 70.

LINEUP CHANGES

All three LIV Golf reserves were called into action Friday due to injuries. Prior to the first tee shots, Ollie Schniederjans replaced RangeGoats GC’s Matthew Wolff , while Max Rottluff replaced Cleeks Golf Club’s Frederik Kjettrup. Then after eight holes, Smash GC Captain Brooks Koepka departed with an illness and was replaced by Luis Carrera.

Schniederjans, making his fourth appearance of the season, shot a 74. Rottluff, making his LIV Golf debut, shot a 78.

Carrera, also making his debut, was 3 over on the final 10 holes after Koepka was 6 over on the first eight hole that include two triple bogeys; combined, they shot an 81 for the team.

If Koepka’s health improves, he could return to action this week but only to contribute to his team’s score.

LIV GOLF DALLAS ROUND 1 STATS LEADERS

Driving accuracy: Abraham Ancer, Paul Casey, 85.71% (12 of 14 fairways hit)

Driving distance average (for measured holes 13 and 18): Carlos Ortiz, 352.6 yards avg.

Longest drive (among measured holes 13 and 18): Charl Schwartzel, 383.8 yards, 18th hole

Greens in regulation: Charl Schwartzel, 83.33% (15 of 18 greens)

Scrambling: Harold Varner III (6 of 6), 100%

Putting: Louis Oosthuizen , 1.33 putts per hole

Bogey-free rounds: none