Dean Burmester opened the LIV Golf Invitational-DC event on Friday with a first-round three-under-par 69 at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia.
He shared seventh place in the 48-man field, five shots behind the first-round target which was set by Harold Varner III at six-under-par 66. Varner led by two from James Piot, with Andy Ogletree in a share of third with Kevin Na, Cameron Smith and Mito Pereira on four-under. Burmester shared seventh with seven other players, including Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent and former world number ones Martin Kaymer and Dustin Johnson.
Burmester started his round on the ninth hole in the shotgun start, and he was soon in trouble with bogeys on the 11th, 14th and 17th. But he righted the ship with a birdie on the 18th, and then he went on a tear. He made an eagle two on the second, and birdies on three, five and eight propelled him up the leaderboard.
Branden Grace had a two-under 70 for a share of 15th, Louis Oosthuizen was one-under in a share of 24th and Charl Schwartzel carded a level-par 72 and was in a share of 28th.
In the team contest, Na’s team, which includes Vincent, Iron Heads GC led at 10-under together with Bubba Watson’s Range Goats GC which includes Varner. Stinger GC, the South African team, was on six-under in sixth.
