Martin Kaymer of Germany, Adrian Meronk of Poland and Caleb Surratt are tied for the lead after one round of LIV Golf Houston after the trio shot bogey-free, 7–under 65s on Friday at the Golf Club of Houston.
Kaymer and Meronk gave their team, Cleeks GC, a comfortable three-shot lead over Torque GC. Cleeks is at 17 under after combining the score of Finland’s Kalle Samooja (3–under 69) with Kaymer’s and Meronk’s.
As for the individual leaderboard, the three co-leaders have a one-shot edge over Kevin Na and Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz at 6–under 66.
Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Spaniard Sergio Garcia and Chile’s Joaquin Niemann are part of a large tie at 5–under 67.
A two-time major winner, Kaymer feels he’s getting hot at the right time before he plays in the U.S. Open next week at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina, where he won the championship in 2014.
“It all started (at LIV Hong Kong) and then I was getting better and better,” Kaymer said. “Little things need to be—once they fall into place, then rounds like this can happen. I’m glad that I shot such a good round today. It gives me confidence going into tomorrow and into Sunday, and also moving forward, as you mentioned, the U.S. Open.”
Surratt, just 20 years old, left college and turned professional earlier this year, signing with Spaniard Jon Rahm’s new team, Legion XIII.
Seven birdies later, he’s co-leading a LIV event, but he had some prior course knowledge.
“I was fortunate enough to actually have a college event here about 15 months ago,” Surratt said. “Fifteen months ago I was playing at Tennessee, and we had a University of Houston golf tournament here. It was definitely in a little different condition and a lot more fans and a little harder setup, but I’ve seen the golf course and I feel comfortable.”
Among other notables, Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau are at 3–under 69; Brooks Koepka and Englishman Tyrrell Hatton shot 2–under 70; Phil Mickelson and Australia’s Cameron Smith are at 1–under 71; and Anthony Kim posted a 1–over 73.
