Burmester takes one-shot lead at Andalucia

South Africa's Dean Burmester leads by one stroke after Friday's opening round of the LIV Golf Andalucia event in Sotogrande, Spain.

Burmester had six birdies and carded a 5-under 66 in windy conditions at Real Club Valderrama.

Australian Danny Lee is one shot behind and Spain's Eugenio Chacarra is in solo third place at 3-under.

Only seven of the 54 golfers finished under par. Defending champion Talor Gooch is 10 shots off the pace after a 76.

"Valderrama is someplace, I mean, even in the best of conditions it's tough," Burmester said.

"It was probably one of the best putting rounds I've ever had as a professional. Just every time I stood over a putt, I just felt like I could make it. You don't get days like that too often ... I certainly don't."

Burmester, 35, who claimed his first LIV individual title at Miami in April, made his lone bogey at the par-4 14th hole.

"The wind obviously played its part. It was gusting up to 30-plus kilometres I think today," Burmester said. "... It was like playing in a US Open. It was tough and fast and yeah, like I said, I don't know how I shot 5-under, to be honest with you."

Have a day, @BurmyGolf 🔥

An unbelievable 5-under 66 at Valderrama under difficult conditions 🤝#LIVGolf @stingergc_ pic.twitter.com/vlLx7yxflS

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) July 12, 2024

STINGERS LEAD TEAM COMPETITION

Lee also collected six birdies but gave shots back with bogeys at the par-3 third hole and par-4 16th.

"It was a little different than Monday through Thursday practice rounds," Lee said.

"Greens got way firmer. Some of the downhill putts with the downwind, it was hard to hit. But I want to say I wasn't playing like perfect golf. I was out of position a couple times. Whenever I did that, I grinded it out for really good pars and it was good, the whole round."

Burmester's Stinger GC lead the team competition at 4-under, two strokes ahead of Sergio Garcia's Fireballs GC.

Garcia, one of the home-country favourites this weekend, shot a 2-under 69 and is tied for fourth with Anirban Lahiri of India.

"First thing I'm going to say is that whoever thinks there's no level-up here, there's no competition, they better check it out," Garcia said.

"Because for eight guys or nine guys to shoot under par here today in these conditions on this golf course – I mean, I thought 2-under would probably be around the lead and I'm three shots behind."

Fellow Spaniard Jon Rahm, still seeking his first LIV individual title, is in a group of eight players tied for 16th at 2-over.