LIV Golf Mexico City: Victor Perez Shoots 9-Under 62, Takes Lead In Round 1

Victor Perez expected an adjustment period to start his first season on LIV Golf. New courses to learn. Music during rounds. Increased energy and enthusiasm from a younger gallery. Night golf in Riyadh. Record crowds in Adelaide and South Africa. In Thursday’s opening round at LIV Golf Mexico City, the 33-year-old Frenchman showed he’s getting comfortable with his new environment. Perez, a member of Cleeks Golf Club, carded 11 birdies at Club de Golf Chapultepec, shooting a 9-under 62 to take a three-shot lead over Legion XIII Captain Jon Rahm. Six players are tied for third, including 4Aces GC Captain Dustin Johnson and Majesticks GC Co-Captain Ian Poulter. On the team leaderboard, Rahm’s Legion XIII shot a cumulative 9 under for a three-stroke lead over the 4Aces, with the Majesticks and Smash GC another stroke back. Perez entered Mexico City fresh off his best result in his first five LIV Golf starts, a tie for 12th at South Africa. He acknowledged there was a learning curve in adjusting to life in the league. "Definitely a different atmosphere, different vibe," said Perez, who had never been inside the top 10 after any of his previous 20 LIV Golf rounds. "It’s about getting more comfortable, and I think the first event, I was really struggling with the energy of the place and the music. I was almost too amped up on the first day and really struggled and it almost got worse through the week. So, it wasn’t good. "The second event in Adelaide was another 360 from the night golf. I thought I found my feet a little bit in Hong Kong, which was decent. Singapore was a little bit more difficult. Then had a decent week in South Africa. So, it’s going in the right direction, which is nice." He had seven birdies in his first 11 holes Thursday before three-putting the 17th and having a plugged lie in the bunker at 18, each resulting in a bogey. But he finished with a flourish with birdies on his final four holes (2-5), his longest made putt from 7 feet during that stretch. "Very happy to finish with four birdies," he said, adding, "nice to not have to deal with long putts at the end." But in chasing his first LIV Golf title, he’ll likely have to deal with Rahm, the two-time LIV Golf Individual Champion and current points leader. With a win, three seconds and a fifth in his first five starts this season, Rahm is the league’s most consistent performer. He showed why again on Thursday with a 6-under 65 in which he was bogey-free until the par-3 18th. After a disappointing T38 in last week’s Masters, Rahm was happy to get immediately back into a competitive mindset. "Sometimes after having a bad week and kind of understanding what I did wrong, I’d almost rather have a week after so I can [be] back at it again as fast as possible and prove myself wrong or right, however you want to look at it," he said. "I was happy that we were playing this week, for sure." As for Rahm being his closest pursuer, Perez knows the Spaniard will apply plenty of pressure the rest of the week. They will be in the final group Friday with Smash GC’s Harold Varner III. "He's obviously one of the marquee players on the league," Perez said. "Ultimately, I think you're going to have to beat those guys." TOP OF THE LEADERBOARDS Individual Top 10 Team Top 3 This piece is courtesy of Mike McAllister in partnership with LIV Golf.