The Fireballs, captained by Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia, have made a strong start to LIV Nashville, the ninth round of the 54-hole league. With a commanding lead, the team stands four shots ahead of the Crushers, led by US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau.
Individual leader Abraham Ancer from Mexico tops the tournament leaderboard with a -7 score on The Grove course, designed by Greg Norman. Ancer was closely followed by Tyrrell Hatton from England with a -6 score, and John Catlin from the USA with a -5 score.
The event has been well-received, particularly in Nashville, which has hosted a prestigious tournament for the first time. DeChambeau’s presence has contributed to the event’s popularity, with his exit from the first tee along with Rahm drawing a massive crowd. Ancer has taken an early lead, with Hatton chasing one stroke behind.
Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra from Spain, who made his debut in a major tournament just a week ago, finished the first round with a -5 score. His performance has improved significantly since recovering from hip problems, and he demonstrated this with seven birdies in the first round.
DeChambeau, the new US Open champion, finished the first round with the same score. Sergio Garcia, also of the Fireballs, started strongly, while teammate David Puig finished with a -2 score, although he briefly took the lead at -4 before slipping back. Jon Rahm, still recovering from a foot injury, managed a -1 score despite his struggles.