BIG HITTERS THRIVING ON A SHORT TRACK: Despite Hong Kong Golf Club being one of the shortest courses on the LIV Golf schedule at 6,711 yards, the leaderboard is littered with some of the league’s longest hitters. 

Harold Varner III weighed in on what makes Fanling play longer than the scorecard indicates. 

“It’s short, but it plays a lot longer,” he said. “The hole right here (17), I don’t know what hole this is, but I hit 6-iron in there today, hit 8-iron into 1, hit 6-iron into 18. It’s short, but I think it’s people who hit their 6-iron, 7-iron close, honestly. The par 3s are about that distance. Then when you get the lay-ups on the wedges, you just take advantage.” 

Varner, who’s played the two par 5s at a cumulative 4-under this week, added that power off the tee also makes the par 5s reachable, increasing scoring opportunities. “The par 5s, I would say, you hit it in the fairway, you’ve got a chance,” he said. “The first par 5 on the back or the only par 5 on the back was playing a little tougher today, but for the entirety of the week it’s been pretty –– you hit it in the fairway, you’ve got a great chance.” 

DEAN’S PUTTING: Dean Burmester’s putter went cold Saturday, ruining an otherwise excellent performance from tee to green. 

Burmester’s bogey-free 69 included his lone birdie at the par-3 eighth from 5 feet. He saved par with a 6-footer at the 11th and made an 18-footer to save par at the 17th. Otherwise, he left himself with tap-in range for the other 15 holes. 

“I hit three putts that didn’t go in,” Burmester said. “I made one birdie all day. You’re not going to win a golf tournament like that.” 

VARNER’S NEW CAPTAIN: Harold Varner III is in his first season with Smash GC, which has a new captain in Talor Gooch. Varner will be chasing an individual title while also hoping to lead Smash GC to their first team trophy with Gooch at the helm. 

Varner and Gooch are long-time friends and also former teammates with RangeGoats GC in 2023 when Gooch won the league’s Individual Championship. Varner said having Gooch as captain is a driving force to play his best. 

“I hate losing to Talor. Like, it’s tough,” Varner said. “He’s like a really good friend. I love that competition. I’ve known him since I was 23, 22. He’s a captain, but in my eyes he’s like a peer that he’s going to make me better. I played well when we were on the team at the RangeGoats and he beat everybody in the league. 

“I just know I’m going to be better at life and golf, which is important to me. Those two things are very important.” 

NEWS AND NUGGETS