Lee Sets the Pace in Florida
Bogey free start sharpens focus as LIV Golf dream narrows
Canada’s Richard T. Lee led a group of 29 players into the second round of LIV Golf Promotions after opening with a flawless six under par 64 at Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto, Florida.
Breaking par was the simple requirement on Thursday, and every player who managed that task advanced from a 60 man field into Friday’s decisive second round, where scores reset and the margins tighten.
Lee, 35, separated himself with a calm finish, rolling in four birdies over his final six holes to claim a two shot advantage and underline his growing comfort at this stage of the process.
“It’s the first round, and finishing first is always a great feeling,” Lee said. “But the scores are going to reset tomorrow for the second round, and hopefully I can put up another good score out there.”
The second round will feature 47 players, including 18 exemptions, with only the top 20 and ties progressing to the weekend shootout. From there, just three wild card places for the 2026 LIV Golf League remain on offer.
Lee knows the territory well. He advanced to the weekend at last season’s Promotions and understands what is at stake, particularly the chance to become the league’s first Canadian player.
“Definitely for everyone out there that’s striving to get the three cards, I think it’s going to be a life changer to be out there on LIV Golf and performing at the highest level,” he said.
Chasing closely on four under par were Ireland’s Max Kennedy, Spain’s Pablo Ereno, Korea’s Hongtaek Kim and Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai and Sadom Kaewkanjana, each positioning themselves comfortably inside the cut line.
For some, experience counted. Kennedy returned more assured than when he played the inaugural Promotions as an amateur, while Prateeptienchai welcomed a revised format that spreads the final 36 holes across the weekend rather than one demanding day.
Others, like Kaewkanjana, are seeking a return to familiar ground after previous LIV Golf experience, motivated by another chance to compete alongside the game’s elite.
By day’s end, the arithmetic was clear and the stakes unmistakable. Par was beaten, the field reduced, and the road to a LIV Golf future grew narrower, with Lee setting the early standard.