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\u2019s longest hitters.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Harold Varner III<\/a> weighed in on what makes Fanling play longer than the scorecard indicates.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s short, but it plays a lot longer,\u201d he said. \u201cThe 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.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Varner, who\u2019s 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. \u201cThe par 5s, I would say, you hit it in the fairway, you’ve got a chance,\u201d he said. \u201cThe 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 \u2013\u2013 you hit it in the fairway, you’ve got a great chance.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n DEAN\u2019S PUTTING: Dean Burmester<\/a>\u2019s putter went cold Saturday, ruining an otherwise excellent performance from tee to green.\u00a0<\/p>\n Burmester\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI hit three putts that didn’t go in,\u201d Burmester said. \u201cI made one birdie all day. You’re not going to win a golf tournament like that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n VARNER\u2019S NEW CAPTAIN: Harold Varner III<\/a> is in his first season with Smash GC<\/a>, which has a new captain in Talor Gooch<\/a>. Varner will be chasing an individual title while also hoping to lead Smash GC<\/a> to their first team trophy with Gooch at the helm.\u00a0<\/p>\n