MORGAN'S WELL-TIMED 66 HAS RIPPER NEAR CHICAGO LEAD
SUGAR GROVE, Ill. – Good starts from the players on the Ripper GC resulted in good finishes on Friday at LIV Golf Chicago.
The team shot a combined 11 under and heads into the weekend in fourth place, just two off the lead on the team leaderboard. They were led by Jediah Morgan, who erupted for a 5-under 66 to take a share of the lead heading into Saturday. He pocketed a remarkable seven birdies, was tied for second in average putts per hole (1.44) and displayed some power with a driving average of 307.9 yards, which was good for ninth.
The timing couldn’t have been better for Morgan, who has been fighting for his LIV Golf eligibility as the season winds down. He believes the added pressure has helped, not hurt.
“I just look at it in the face really,” Morgan said. “I know where I am and everyone keeps reminding me where I am, so it's pretty hard to get away from it, so there's no point in me trying to act like it's not there in my head. It's obviously there.”
It was tough to tell for those who watched Friday.
“I know if I play well enough, put myself in the position to make putts for birdie, then that's really all you can do,” Morgan said. “What's going to happen is going to happen.”
What happened was playing a leading role in his team’s fast start. But his teammates weren’t far behind. Marc Leishman carded a 4-under 67, and Cameron Smith, who won the individual title at LIV Golf Bedminster - the most recent LIV Golf event - recorded a 2-under 69. Ripper GC didn’t need to count Matt Jones’ solid and steady 1-under 70.
Ripper GC is coming off winning the team trophy at LIV Golf Bedminster and began the week seventh in the team standings.