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SCMP Sport

It turns out Dustin Johnson did not need that close a look at Sta Elena Golf Club after all and Sarit Suwannarut is suffering few ill effects from his final-round meltdown in Macau.
The Thai golfer, who went into last weekend with a two-shot lead and promptly carded a three-over 73, fired off an opening eight-under-par 64 in the International Series Philippines to lead the star-studded field by a shot on Thursday.
Sarit, who wound up fourth at the SJM Macau Open, was just ahead of Japan’s Kazuki Higa, who has already won twice on the Asian Tour this season, with just two shots separating the next 11 golfers.
A “perfect” round included just a single bogey on the par-3 second, his 11th hole of the day, although that did little to offset the five birdies on an impressive back nine.
“I’ve been playing pretty good,” Sarit said. “I mean, before a round, I know I can share the ball number with my caddie and hit the shots. I tell myself, you can hit it, you can do it.
“It’s not as long as some other golf courses, but the rough is pretty thick. If you miss your position, it is really hard to get it out. You have to be hitting well and putting it in a good position to make a good number.”

Johnson, who has never visited the Philippines before and played the course for the first time on Wednesday, having said he had “played enough courses by now” to know what he was doing, was among those on five under, having registered a 67.
The American’s playing partners, Miguel Tabuena and Louis Oosthuizen, came home with scores of 69 and 71, respectively.
“We all played pretty well, it was a good atmosphere and we made a lot of birdies,” Johnson said.
“If any day, any time you make nine birdies, you know you hit a lot of really good shots. I had a lot of good looks at birdie and hit just one bad drive on the 15th and ended up making a double. Obviously, still in a good position going into tomorrow and the rest of the week.”
Of the LIV stars in the field, it was the evergreen Richard Bland who shone brightest with a six under 66 that left him in a four-way tie for third.
Matthew Cheung fared best of the two Hongkongers in the field. He finished the day on four under, with Taichi Kho two strokes further back.


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Asian Tour

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Dustin Johnson gets his International Series Philippines under way at Sta Elena Golf Club. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong’s Matthew Cheung carded a four-under-par 68 in his opening round. Photo: AFP

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Li Haotong won silver at the 2021 National Games and will be looking to go one better at Hong Kong Golf Club. Photo: Asian Tour

Matthew Cheung has been warming up for the Games at the Macau Open. Photo: Asian Tour

Taichi Kho has quickly become one of the faces of the Asian Tour. Photo: Asian Tour

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Sport

Golf

Sarit Suwannarut takes narrow one-shot lead after first round of International Series Philippines, with Dustin Johnson close behind


Sarit Suwannarut takes narrow one-shot lead after first round of International Series Philippines, with Dustin Johnson close behind.


Asian Tour: Sarit shows few signs of Macau meltdown, Johnson makes solid start in Philippines

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Sarit Suwannarut takes narrow one-shot lead after first round of International Series Philippines, with Dustin Johnson close behind

Sarit Suwannarut takes narrow one-shot lead after first round of International Series Philippines, with Dustin Johnson close behind