Rd. 1 News and Notes: Relegation stress on display at LIV Golf UK by JCB

ROCESTER, England – It's tight at the top after the opening round of LIV Golf UK by JCB, as Joaquin Niemann, Branden Grace and Adrian Meronkshare the lead, but there are plenty more news notes and stats from Day 1 at JCB Golf & Country Club.

Related: Leaderboard | Round 1 recap | Full Round 1 highlights

LIV Golf UK by JCB Rd. 1 Notes

STRESS RAMPS UP

Just three tournaments are left in the regular season, which means some players are vying for positions in the Lock Zone, which guarantee spots for next season, while others are hoping to avoid the Drop Zone, which results in relegation.

RangeGoats GC Captain Bubba Watson started the week 31st in points and is safe from relegation but would love to move inside the top 24 Lock Zone for the first time since joining LIV Golf.

“There's a lot more stress, 100%,” Watson said. “… Guys are without a contract next year, so there's people that are stressed. They're trying to get top 24. They're trying to stay in the top 48. There's a lot of movement.

“There's a lot of having to step up and hit great golf shots because they know what's on the line to be in an elite league like this. They want a contract. They want to be able to play here next year, so there's a lot of stress out there for sure.”

The biggest projected movers in the individual standings after Friday’s opening round are Adrian Meronk (23rd to 9th) and Branden Grace (37th to 25th).

“Obviously everyone wants to finish well, at least in the top 24,” Meronk said. “Guys who are outside definitely have more pressure, I would say, to perform well. But I'm happy I'm in a good position and playing finally well and enjoying myself on the course.”

WESTWOOD’S 3-WOOD

Among the highlights of Lee Westwood’s 5-under 66 was a majestic 3-wood into the par-5 13th, which landed on the green about 10 feet away to set up an eagle opportunity.

"That 3-wood into there was kind of perfect, 263 to the front, 269 to the pin. I carry it about 260 with the 3-wood. It was straight off the left, so I started it on the left-hand trap and just let it drift in and landed lovely about a yard short and hopped up to there and finished about 8 or 9 feet away,” Westwood said.

“With the positions I've been getting in my golf swing, they're the kind of shots that I feel like I can hit now. I've been driving the ball well, driving it longer, so yeah, it's all moving in the right direction."

Unfortunately for Westwood, his eagle putt came up a foot short, despite teammate Sam Horsfield and Ian Poulter’s caddie Terry Mundy both calling it a “great putt” as the ball headed to the hole. “They owe me a drink for talking that one out,” joked Westwood.

MERONK RETURNS TO FORM

The strong start for Adrian Meronk is a welcome one for the Polish star, who hasn’t had a top 14 finish since LIV Golf Adelaide in February.

“It was very frustrating,” Meronk said. “When you start the season quite well, you have high expectations. You want to keep going, keep having good results, keep shooting good scores. But sometimes it just doesn't happen.

“But if I look at it now, I changed my coach last year, and I started with my coach in October, so we worked quite hard over the winter just to get ready for the season, and it clicked the first two weeks, but then it kind of dropped. I guess I just needed more time to get used to it.”

HOW THE ENGLISHMEN FARED

Six English-born players are playing at home this week. Here’s how they fared Friday:

Lee Westwood, Majesticks GC – Shot a bogey-free 5-under 66 and is tied for fourth.

Tyrrell Hatton, Legion XIII – Shot a bogey-free 4-under 67 and is tied for seventh.

Paul Casey, Crushers GC – Shot a 4-under 67 with six birdies and two bogeys and is tied for seventh.

Sam Horsfield, Majesticks – Shot a 3-under 68 with four birdies and one bogey and is tied for 11th.

Ian Poulter, Majesticks – Shot an even-par 71 that included four birdies, two bogeys and a double and is tied for 32nd.

Richard Bland, Cleeks GC – Shot an even-par 71 that included an eagle at the par-4 12th, along with one birdie and three bogeys.

WOLFF’S RETURN

RangeGoats GC’s Matthew Wolff returned to action after missing the last two tournaments with a back injury. Wolff shot an even-par 71 and is tied for 32nd.

LIV Golf UK by JCB Rd. 1 Stats Leaders

Driving accuracy: Andy Ogletree, Louis Oosthuizen , 85.71% (12 of 14 fairways hit)

Driving distance average (for measured holes 8 and 10): Bubba Watson, 312.9 yards avg.

Longest drive (among measured holes 8 and 10): Brooks Koepka, 341.3 yards, 8th hole

Greens in regulation: Joaquin Niemann, Bryson DeChambeau, 88.89% (16 of 18 greens)

Scrambling: Dean Burmester (8 of 8), Cameron Tringale (6 of 6), Lee Westwood (6 of 6), Sergio Garcia (5 of 5), Lucas Herbert (5 of 5), Tyrrell Hatton (3 of 3), Bryson DeChambeau (2 of 2), Joaquin Niemann (2 of 2), 100%

Putting: Matthew Wolff, 1.28 putts per hole

Bogey-free rounds: Joaquin Niemann (65), Lee Westwood (66), Tyrrell Hatton (67), Cameron Tringale (68)