LIV Golf's Sebastián Muñoz inexplicably whiffed a tap-in putt, then recovered to finish strong at LIV Golf Hong Kong.
Sebastián Muñoz was in full flight early at LIV Golf Hong Kong, carving his way through the opening round and headed for something special. A blistering stretch that included three birdies and an eagle in the span of five holes sent him surging up the leaderboard and into sole possession of the spotlight.
Then came the moment no golfer — professional or weekend hacker alike — ever expects. Standing over a tap-in barely an inch long, Muñoz inexplicably whiffed. True to form, the Colombian promptly called the penalty on himself, turning what had been a flawless card into his first bogey of the day.
— BENNY BOOMS ARMY (@BennyBoomsArmy) March 5, 2026
It was a jolt, but not a derailment. Muñoz, a LIV Golf winner who out-dueled Jon Rahm in a playoff last season, steadied himself and closed with a 65 at Hong Kong Golf Club. After the opening round, he sits in a tie for 10th — still very much in the hunt, and with a reminder that even the game’s best are never immune to humbling twists.
“That was an attempt to hit it and he bounced over it. That’s something you don’t see every day,” said David Feherty on the LIV Golf broadcast.
Muñoz's Torque GC teammate Carlos Ortiz leads after the opening 18 holes, after a 60 that has him at 10 under.
Dean Burmester is second at 8 under while a group of four, including Sergio Garcia and Talor Gooch, sit in a third-place tie at 7 under.
As for Ortiz, who has never shot a 59 and came within a single stroke, the day was a good one.
"It was a great round. We started a little bit slower than, I guess, I finished," he said. "But I would say highlights, I made a great par on 9. I think that was huge. Then I chipped in on 11, and I think that got the momentum going because I had just birdied 10. That was just nothing big, but that chip on 11 got the momentum. Obviously, I played great coming in.
"I think I hit it very close, like four or five times I just tapped it in. That doesn't happen much, so it's awesome when you don't even have to get the putter out. Very pleased."
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: LIV Golf Hong Kong Sebastián Muñoz tap-in whiff
Category: General Sports
