Leishman, Herbert well poised at LIV Singapore

Australians Marc Leishman and Lucas Herbert were two shots off the pace after opening rounds of four-under 67 at the LIV Golf tournament in Singapore.

Colombia's Sebastian Munoz shot a 65 at Sentosa Golf Club on Friday to finish with a one-stroke lead over a sextet of players including Thomas Pieters of Belgium and American Brooks Koepka.

Herbert, 28, began well with three birdies offset by one bogey on the front nine, before birdying four of his last eight holes while bogeying the par four 16th.

The 40-year-old Leishman was slightly more even. Birdies at one and four were cancelled by a double-bogey six at the fifth, before he added four more birdies in a blemish-free last 13 holes.

Fellow Australian Cameron Smith was six off the lead after three birdies and three bogeys in his par round.

Koepka, who started on the third hole in the shotgun-style format, birded five of his first seven holes in usual steamy conditions in Singapore.

After being asked if he played better in warm-weather climates -- he has won twice in Saudi Arabia in 2022 and 2023 at Royal Greens Golf Club in Jeddah -- Koepka said: "I really don't care where it is, as long as I win."

Brendan Steele, last week's LIV winner in Adelaide, was three shots off the lead after a 68.

Jon Rahm, who has yet to win after joining LIV in December, was four strokes off the pace after a 69. Rahm, however, is the only player to have finished in the top 10 in all six events in 2024.