Ortiz Ignites in Hong Kong: Nearly a 59, Now the Lead! Folks, what an opener at the HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong! Carlos Ortiz delivered a golf masterclass on Thursday, seizing the lead with an incredible 10-under-par (60 strokes) round. The action on the green was intense! Imagine this: On his final hole, a par 4, Ortiz fired an approach shot from 167 yards (152.70 meters) directly at the flagstick. For a tiny, magical moment, a 59 was within reach! The ball sensationally landed just about 2 feet (approx. 61 cm) from the hole. A simple tap-in birdie, and the 60 was on the scorecard – a two-shot lead over South African Dean Burmester, who also played remarkably well after the first round at the Hong Kong Golf Club. This 60 wasn't just Ortiz's personal record round as a professional; it was also only the third 60 in LIV Golf history. Only three rounds were even more astounding: Bryson DeChambeau's historic 58 and the two 59s by his Torque GC teammates Joaquin Niemann and Sebastian Munoz. Ortiz himself? Quite cool about it: "That was an amazing round! I hit the ball so close to the hole four or five times that I practically didn't need the putter. That doesn't happen often; when it does, it's simply magnificent!" Overall, the scoring at Fanling was incredible. Burmester carded a 62 – exactly the same score as his previous round here when the Southern Guards GC star finished second behind Fireballs GC Captain Sergio Garcia last season. And Garcia? He delivered a 63, extending his phenomenal streak of bogey-free holes at the Hong Kong Golf Club to an unbelievable 63! He shares third place with Smash GC Captain Talor Gooch and Scott Vincent, who conjured up the best round ever by a Wild Card player. In total, 28 players posted a 67 or better. The Fanling course was properly softened after the rainy pre-tournament conditions, making it a feast for the pros. And who else had a strong start? Anthony Kim! He shot a 67 in his first tournament start since winning LIV Golf Adelaide last month. What a comeback! Burmester already suspected: "The scores show the course is softer and easier than usual. But I know the wind will pick up on Saturday and Sunday. Then it'll get tougher, the course will dry out, and then we'll experience the true Fanling." So, excitement is guaranteed! Ortiz himself was relatively unremarkable after the first nine holes, sitting at 2-under-par with a bogey on the 8th. But then he hit the accelerator! After a phenomenal up-and-down from the edge of the cart path on the 9th, he saved par. This was followed by three consecutive birdies (holes 10-12), including a chip-in on the 11th. And as if that weren't enough, he added an eagle on the par 5, 13th hole, after his
