Johnson races to LIV lead at Rich Harvest

By Tim Cronin

Writing from Sugar Grove, Illinois

Friday, September 16, 2022

Dustin Johnson says of Rich Harvest Farms, “The course is great.”

Which brings to mind the old saying, “Winners tell funny stories and losers say deal.”

Johnson was in the mood for funny stories on Friday, authoring a course-record 9-under-par 63 to take the lead in the LIV Golf Invitational Chicago.

“It's just like anywhere, you hit it in the fairway and hit it on the green and you can usually shoot a good score,” Johnson said.

Aside from a putt that hung the lip on the first hole, Johnson played nearly-perfect golf, scattering nine birdies across his scorecard, including four straight from the sixth hole onward, though he’ll probably kick himself for settling for par at the last, a 522-yard downhill par 5.

“Obviously the reachable par-5s you need to take advantage of, but you've got to hit it in the fairway just so you can control the golf ball coming into these greens,” Johnson said. “I missed the fairway on 18, but all the other ones I could get to.”

Johnson’s birdie on the par-5 seventh came via one putt, as he decided to lay up because he wasn’t comfortable with the shot.

Because of such prudent play and a puissant putter, Johnson leads British Open champion Cameron Smith by three strokes and Matthew Wolff by four. Smith fired a bogey-free 6-under 66 on the 7,425-yard layout. Wolff’s 67 included a bogey on the par-4 17th hole, but he more than made up for it with an eagle-3 on the 18th.

Phil Mickelson is tied for 11th after a 2-under 70, his third straight sub-70 round following the last two rounds at LIV’s Boston stop.

David Puig of Spain, the newly-minted pro who played the first and third tournaments as an amateur while mulling whether or not to leave Arizona State, scored 1-over 73 in his debut round playing for money. Shaun Norris brought up the rear in the 48-man field with a 7-over 79.

Around Rich Harvest

Contrary to a rumor that had only 1,500 tickets sold, there was a solid crowd for the first round. Based on the nearly-full parking lot to the north side of the course, the educated estimate is about 8,000 spectators, not including volunteers. The retail ticket price was $49, but you could find tickets on StubHub for $9 in the morning. … The shotgun starts Saturday and Sunday are at 12:15 p.m.