LIV Golf Invitational Series: New boy Carlos Ortiz leads the way in Portland from Dustin Johnson and Pat Perez

By Matt Smith
New face Carlos Ortiz was the toast of Portland on Thursday as the Mexican upstaged Dustin Johnson to take a one-stroke lead at the LIV Golf Invitational Series.

WATCH: All the action live from Portland

The 31-year-old shot an impressive five-under 67 to lead American 2016 US Open and 2020 Masters champion Johnson in the second of the Saudi-backed series events.

Another new boy and fan favourite Pat Perez it T3 on three-under alongside Japan’s Hideto Tanihara and Branden Grace — the South African finished third in London last time out.

[parone_video_player campaign=”281″ defaultlang=”en” feed=”51-all-videos”/]

London runner-up Hennie Du Plessis is T6 on two-under with debutant Brooks Koepka and Australian Wade Ormsby.

Just like in London, there was a festival atmosphere in Oregon as a trio of US Navy Seals parachuted onto the course ahead of the shotgun start, each bearing the Stars and Stripes flag for all to see and confirm LIV Golf’s arrival in the US at Pumpkin Ridge. A bald eagle flew over the driving range and fans chanted U-S-A! (It is Fourth of July weekend, after all.)

The players have been clear in their justification for being here: “I’m here to play golf and entertain the fans. The fans on-site wanted to watch the golf, and they wanted to be entertained. There were fathers and sons. Couples, young and old. Families with young children. It was a similar line from the fans as the players: We’re here to watch the golf.”

There was, however, one isolated incident. On his first hole of the day, Brooks Koepka missed a four-foot putt. A fan yelled “That’s what you get for playing here!” His playing partners and their caddies feared it would be the beginning of an onslaught of heckling. It was the only chirp they heard all day.

Leaderboard

1 Carlos Ortiz (MEX) -5
2 Dustin Johnson (USA) -4
T3 Pat Perez (USA) -3
T3 Hideto Tanihara (JPN) -3
T3 Branden Grace (RSA) -3
T6 Brooks Koepka (USA) -2
T6 Hennie Du Plessis (RSA) -2
T6 Wade Ormsby (AUS) -2