LIV Golf Hong Kong: Carlos Ortiz sets pace but consistent Garcia still the man to beat
Carlos Ortiz fires a first-round 10-under 60 at Hong Kong Golf Club, while defending champion Sergio Garcia goes bogey free again
Anyone with ambitions of dethroning LIV Golf Hong Kong champion Sergio Garcia is going to have their work cut out, but Carlos Ortiz might fancy his chances after flirting with a magical 59.
On a day of low scoring after 48 hours of heavy rain had made the greens far more receptive than usual, the Torque GC star’s 10-under-par 60 on Thursday set him apart from the rest.
A run of seven birdies and an eagle in an eight-hole stretch from the par-four 10th took the Mexican two shots clear of the field. It also helped Torque to an early lead in the team event on a combined 21 under, with Smash GC on 19 under and 4Aces in third, six strokes off the pace.
Garcia, meanwhile, fired an opening seven-under 63 and has now gone 63 holes without a bogey at Fanling.
“I made a great par on nine, I think that was huge,” Ortiz said. “Then I chipped in on 11, and I think that got the momentum going because I had just birdied 10.
“That was just nothing big, but that chip on 11 got the momentum. Obviously, I played great coming in.”