Kim Min-gyu after finishing tied for fourth in the opening round. [Photo=LIV Golf]
Kim Min-gyu after finishing tied for fourth in the opening round. [Photo=LIV Golf]

Kim Min-gyu opened his LIV Golf Andalucia campaign tied for fourth at the $30 million event.

Playing Friday at Real Club Valderrama in Sotogrande, Spain — a par-71 layout stretching 7,028 yards — Kim carded four birdies and two bogeys for a 2-under-par 69. He finished the opening round tied for fourth alongside Sergio Garcia, David Puig (both Spain), Cameron Smith (Australia) and Brendan Grace (South Africa).

Kim sits two strokes behind co-leaders Tyrrell Hatton (England) and Scott Vincent (Zimbabwe), who each shot 4-under 67, and has positioned himself to contend for the title over the remaining rounds. A member of the Korean Golf Club team, Kim has struggled on the individual leaderboard this season, ranking 54th, and is looking to use this event as a turning point.

Kim had also finished 54th at LIV Golf Korea last week. Just four days later he moved to Europe and navigated Valderrama's characteristically narrow fairways and tricky greenside hazards with sharp iron play and precise putting.

Hatton, who missed LIV Golf Korea last week for the birth of his child, bounced back with five birdies and one bogey for a 4-under 67 to share the lead. Vincent, who finished third in Korea last week, was bogey-free with four birdies to also close at 67. Thomas Detry (Belgium) sits alone in third at 3-under 68.

Moon Do-yeop, who made an impressive LIV debut last week, shot 1-under 70 to tie for ninth alongside Bryson DeChambeau (United States). Showing quick adaptability, Moon eagled once and birdied twice but also made three bogeys.

Ahn Byeong-hun opened at 1-over 72, tying for 19th with last week's LIV Golf Korea champion Joaquin Niemann (Chile), Danny Lee (New Zealand) and others. Lee Tae-hoon (Canada) struggled to a 3-over 74, tying for 40th, while Song Young-han posted a 4-over 75 to tie for 45th.

Korean Golf Club sits tied for second in the team competition at 2-over par, alongside Legion XIII GC and Rangegoats GC, two strokes behind even-par leader Crushers GC.

Meanwhile, hometown favorite Jon Rahm (Spain) could not capitalize on the home crowd's support, carding a 2-over 73 to tie for 28th with Anthony Kim (United States).


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