4Aces GC captain Dustin Johnson is back in top form and back at the top of the leaderboard after a stunning bogey-free 63 in the opening round of LIV Golf Singapore, presented by Aramco, at Sentosa Golf Club.
His 8-under round, matching his best single-round performance in 109 career LIV Golf regular-season rounds, has given him a commanding three-shot lead. Meanwhile, 4Aces GC, seeking their first team win since 2023, lead the competition by two strokes over Torque GC.
From Injury Struggles to Dominance
Just a week ago, Johnson struggled at LIV Golf Hong Kong, where a sore right shoulder severely limited his performance. He posted rounds of 75 and 72, dropping to last place after two rounds – an unusual sight for the two-time major champion.
“I couldn’t turn my head to the right. I was pulling everything left, and it wasn’t a whole lot of fun,” Johnson admitted.
After receiving intensive treatment, Johnson’s body finally responded, and he bounced back with a 6-under 64 in the final round. While the leaderboard damage had been done, it was a sign that his game was back on track.
“Swung it really nicely on Sunday. The body loosened up, and I could hit the shots I wanted.”
That confidence carried over to Singapore. Johnson hit 16 greens, tied for best in the field, and missed just three fairways. His putter was on fire, particularly at the par-3 14th, where he drained a 58-foot birdie putt.
“I put a lot of work in the last couple of days on the putter, and it paid off.”
Johnson is now eyeing his fourth individual LIV Golf title, having won once in each of the league’s first three seasons. A victory this weekend would make him the first player to win in all four LIV seasons.
Hot on his heels is Torque GC’s Sebastián Muñoz, who fired a 5-under 66 to sit in solo second. Still searching for his first LIV Golf title, Muñoz has held or shared second place in five of the first 10 rounds this season.
“I don’t know if I’m going to get it done this week, but I’m working hard at it. I want that opportunity again.”
A group of eight players sits tied for third at 4-under 67, including five team captains:
- Jon Rahm (Legion XIII) – reigning LIV Golf Individual Champion
- Brooks Koepka (Smash GC) – defending LIV Golf Singapore champion
- Joaquin Niemann (Torque GC) – already a winner this season
- Louis Oosthuizen (Stinger GC)
- Cameron Smith (Ripper GC)
Smith and teammate Marc Leishman finished as runners-up in Singapore last year, helping Ripper GC capture the 2024 team title.
In the team leaderboard, 4Aces GC sit at 14-under, followed by Torque GC at 12-under. Phil Mickelson’s HyFlyers GC are another two shots back after a strong start, with all four players shooting in the 60s.
With two rounds left, multiple teams are in the hunt for their first title in a while:
- 4Aces GC last won in 2023
- Torque GC also hasn’t won since 2023
- HyFlyers GC are still chasing their first-ever team trophy
“We’ve got a lot of golf to play in the next two days,” said Niemann. “We’re excited to see what’s coming.”
As Johnson looks to close out a statement win, the battle for both individual and team glory promises plenty of drama in the days ahead.
Credit Photo : Chris Trotman/LIV Golf
