By LIV Golf Staff
Dean Burmester shot a five-under 66 on Friday for a one-shot advantage while leading Stinger GC to the top of the team leaderboard, but even the South African wasn’t sure how he managed the low score as Real Club Valderrama bared its teeth.
“Valderrama is some place,” said Burmester, the individual winner earlier this season in Miami on another difficult course, Doral’s Blue Monster. “I don’t know how I shot five-under, to be honest with you.”
Just seven of the 54 players in the field were under par, the lowest number in a single round of any LIV Golf regular-season tournament. The field stroke average of 3.519 over par, with five players shooting 80 or higher, is the highest for any of LIV Golf’s 88 regular-season rounds. Collectively, the field was 190-over, and just one hole played under par, the par-five 11th.
Gusting winds reaching nearly 32 kilometres an hour from a direction that was different than the practice days required players to throw their game plans out the window. The winds also dried the greens, creating firm putting surfaces.
The closest pursuer to Burmester on the individual leaderboard was Iron Heads GC’s Danny Lee, who shot a four-under 67. It’s his fourth best round relative to par this season as he’s struggled for results. He entered this week ranked 45th in points.
For Burmester, the key to survival on Friday was his putter. He needed just 21 putts, which tied for fewest in the field with wild card player Anthony Kim, who shot a 73.
“It was probably one of the best putting rounds I’ve ever had as a professional,” Burmester said. “Just every time I stood over a putt, I just felt like could I make it. You don’t get days like that too often.”
Louis Oosthuizen fired a one-under 70 for a share of sixth, while Charl Schwartzel had a two-over 73 for a share of 16th. Branden Grace was on seven-over in a share of 43rd in the 54-man field.
