Ortiz shoots 60, leads after Rd. 1 at LIV Golf Hong Kong; Torque GC top team

HONG KONG - LIV Golf players went low on Thursday in Round 1 of HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong, with soft conditions from a rainy week turning the par-70 layout into target practice. The field feasted on receptive greens on the short course, firing at pins and producing a slew of birdies early and often. 

RELATED: Where to Watch | Leaderboard 

Torque GC's Carlos Ortiz ended the round on top after firing a 10-under 60. The Mexican made nine birdies, one eagle and one bogey on the way to lowest round on LIV Golf. 

“I've been working hard on my swing, so I'm just focusing on committing and trying to play the best I can," he said. "Today was great.”

Close on Ortiz’s heels is Dean Burmester, who finished runner-up last year in Hong Kong to Sergio Garcia. The Southern Guards GC star shot an 8-under 62, making only one bogey on the day. Garcia is also off to a strong start in his bid to win the tournament in back-to-back seasons. The Fireballs GC captain shot a stress-free and bogey-free 63, hitting every green in regulation in the process. Garcia has now completed 63 consecutive holes at Fanling without making a bogey. 

“I actually didn't know it was that many," Garcia said. "I obviously knew I went bogey free on my last round. Maybe on the one before in the second round last year, too.”

Garcia is currently in a tie for third alongside Smash GC Captain Talor Gooch, Korean Golf Club's Younghan Song and Wild Card player Scott Vincent. 

Vincent shot his best-ever opening round on LIV Golf as well as the best opening round by a Wild Card player, while Song made an eagle on the par-4 fourth hole by holing out from 111 yards. Gooch made seven birdies and an eagle to go along with a double bogey on the par-4 sixth.

Overall, 15 players shot 5 under or better for the round. 

4Aces GC's Anthony Kim played a solid round, shooting a 3-under 67, a score that could have been even lower if the putter had been a bit more cooperative. Kim’s round ended with a bogey after hitting his approach shot in the water, but he made a tricky up-and-down to limit the damage. 

Cleeks Golf Club's Victor Perez made a hole-in-one from 134 yards on the second hole, the first of the 2026 season and the 13th in LIV Golf history. 

Ortiz’s phenomenal round put Torque GC at the top of the team leaderboard with a score of 21 under. Smash GC is two shots back at 19 under after the strong start from Gooch, while 4Aces GC are in third place at 13 under, eight shots back of the lead. 

The overall scoring average for Round 1 was –2.72. The 529-yard par-5 13th played as the easiest hole on the course with a scoring average of –0.91.