Staff WriterAt LIV Golf Adelaide, the opening round didn’t just begin with a bang – it kicked off with a hole-in-one.
Patrick Reed delivered the day’s top highlight by acing the famous Watering Hole, conjuring memories of his unforgettable “shoey” celebration two years ago at the inaugural event.
This time, his 8-iron wizardry came far too early in the round for any boisterous mid-tournament festivities, leaving Reed with more holes to play—and, for better or worse, empty hands in the shoe department.
“It’s awesome to give the fans what they want,” said Reed, making his fifth competitive ace (and sixth overall) of his career. “That’s why we want to be out here: Golf, but louder.”
Remembering the Shoey
Reed’s high point arrived just 20 minutes into his day, a stark contrast to the shoey moment that had crowned his 4Aces GC’s team victory back in the tournament’s first edition.
“Being the second hole of the day, I still had a lot of golf holes to go,” Reed quipped.
“Harold (Varner III) looked at me and said, ‘Why couldn’t this happen on our second-to-last hole?’”
While the timing wasn’t quite right for celebratory footwear imbibing, the crowd at the party hole erupted as Reed chalked up LIV Golf’s ninth ace, and his fifth in competitive play.
A Two-Year Turnaround
While Reed was flashing early fireworks, Sam Horsfield of Majesticks GC quietly took command of the leaderboard with a bogey-free 6-under 66.
This is the same Horsfield who, two years ago at LIV Golf Adelaide, hobbled around on crutches after tearing a tendon mid-tournament.
He then underwent hip surgery a few weeks later and spent significant time in the gym rehabbing various foot and ankle issues.
Now pain-free and swinging confidently, Horsfield is on a mission.
“It’s an amazing game,” he said. “Two years ago here, I was probably the most upset I’d been for a long time, and now I’m leading after the first round. Hard work and perseverance can bring you a long way.”
He hasn’t dropped a shot in his last 60 holes dating back to his solid finish in Riyadh, and he’s angling for his first LIV Golf title this weekend.
Bryson’s Calculated Aggression
Another notable performance came from Crushers GC captain Bryson DeChambeau, whose 4-under 68 was a study in measured risk on The Grange’s short par 4s.
With two holes under 400 yards and five more under 425, the temptation to unleash his driver loomed at nearly every turn.
But DeChambeau insisted that wind and comfort dictate his strategy.
“You can’t get too far ahead of yourself,” he said. “It’s so situational—how I’m feeling, how I’m swinging. I had a great front nine but stalled a bit on the back. Thankfully, the putter bailed me out.”
Watering Hole Woes
Despite Reed’s ace, the lively Watering Hole (151-yard par 3) remained one of the toughest challenges on Friday.
It yielded only four additional birdies, resulting in a 3.130 stroke average—the third most difficult hole on the course.
Torque GC’s Carlos Ortiz, who jarred a birdie there, admitted it was “not an easy shot,” noting the tricky crosswind that makes club selection a guessing game.
Still, the raucous atmosphere more than made up for the stress on the tee box.
“It’s unbelievable,” Ortiz said of the atmosphere in Adelaide. “The people here are great. The music is even better. This is probably my favourite tournament I’ve ever played on.”
A Familiar Face Returns
HyFlyers GC captain Phil Mickelson made his 2025 debut after nursing a shoulder injury.
The six-time major champ posted an even-par 72 and sits tied for 28th, showing flashes of his trademark magic, but with clear room for improvement as the weekend unfolds.
Defending Champs Under Pressure
Meanwhile, last year’s winners have some catching up to do. Individual champion Brendan Steele shot 3-over 75, languishing in the bottom half of the field.
Team champions Ripper GC also struggled, finishing the day at 3 over. Fan favourites Lucas Herbert (71), Cameron Smith (72), Marc Leishman (73), and Matt Jones (75) now face an 11-shot deficit behind Torque GC, whose captain Joaquin Niemann and teammate Ortiz each carded 67s.
Finale in Sight
As the action continues at LIV Golf Adelaide, Horsfield holds the top spot, with DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, and other big names nipping at his heels.
Australians are hoping their homegrown heroes in Ripper GC can fire up the crowd and close the gap.
For now, though, this event belongs to the Englishman on a comeback mission and a seasoned ace-maker who might just have another shoey in him—if the clock strikes the right hour on Sunday.
