LIV Golf players start hot at International Series Morocco

RangeGoats GC star Peter Uihlein started fast in Round 1 of The International Series Morocco, shooting a 5-under 68 to stand tied for the lead with LIV Golf reserve player John Catlinat Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat.

Uihlein used his length to his advantage, and it was most evident with birdies on the par-5 fifth and eighth holes. Starting from the 10th, Uihlein overcame a string of disappointing early holes with four straight birdies from Nos. 15-18 holes and made the turn at 3 under.

“It was a bit of a mixed bag with the start," Uihlein said. "It was really ugly, and I scrambled quite a bit, made some nice pars. And then I kind of got going, made a bunch of birdies in a row. And then, I was kind of cruising, had a lot of looks, but did not make any before finishing with a couple of birdies.

“The driver is really the big thing for me. Just with those trees, I’m trying to get as close to the greens and keep it between the trees. With the greens being as soft as they are, it’s pretty gettable.”

Uihlein has become a force on The International Series, having won twice last season in England and Qatar.

Catlin's 68 was no surprise for those who follow The International Series. He is the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion and is always one to watch.

"It was very solid," Catlin said about his round. "Wish I could have played the third hole a bit better. I had an 18-footer with a 2 1/2-foot break and rolled it 7 feet past. Not much you can do there from 7 feet. Outside of that, I played pretty much flawless golf. Very happy with the start, but three more rounds to go. Let’s see.”

LIV Golf players also in the field include RangeGoats GC's Ben Campbell (even-par 73), HyFlyers GC's Andy Ogletree (even-par 73),Torque GC's Mito Pereira (1-over 74) and Stinger GC's Charl Schwartzel (2-over 75).

Australian Maverick Antcliff, only one of four bogey-free rounds during the day, threatened from the afternoon groups. With four birdies, he joined Korea’s Hongtaek Kim, winner of the GS Caltex Maekyung Open last year, and Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut in a tie for third place on 69.

China’s Sampson Zheng, who reached Morocco only on Wednesday after successfully qualifying for The Open Championship on Tuesday, was another player who navigated the Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed course without dropping a shot. He was in a group of eight players tied in sixth place at 70.

The International Series Morocco is the fourth of 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour calendar, which form a pathway to the LIV Golf League.

BMW INTERNATIONAL OPEN

On the DP World Tour, five LIV Golf players are competing at the BMW International Open in Munich, Germany. They are Fireballs GC Captain Sergio Garcia, 4Aces GC's Patrick Reed, Cleeks Golf Club Captain Martin Kaymer and Fireballs GC's David Puig and Josele Ballester.

Puig shot a 3-under 69 and is solo 12th while Kaymer is 23rd after a 2-under 70. Reed is in the red numbers with a 1-under 70 and sits in 50th place. Ballester (2-over 74) and Garcia (3-over 75) will have work to do on Friday to make the cut.

(Uihlein photo courtesy of Steve Bardens/Asian Tour)