Golf news live - McIlroy confirms LIV decision as Mickelson endures horror start

Goodnight!

That's all we've got time for this evening!

Bubba Watson shares details of horror knee injury ahead of LIV Golf debut

Please join us next time for more golf news.

Anthony Kim struggling to shake off rust

It turned out to be another tough outing for the returning Anthony Kim, as he competed in his second LIV Golf event in Hong Kong after 12 years away. Kim finished dead-last in Jeddah last week, shooting 16-over-par across his three rounds at Royal Greens.

And the American was clearly still shaking off some rust in Friday's opening round in Hong Kong, after beginning his week with a six-over, 76. The only consolation for Kim is that he finally does not find himself at the bottom of the leaderboard, with Phil Mickelson four shots worse off at ten-over.

Anthony Kim endured a chastening LIV Golf debut (Francois Nel/Getty Images)

Lowry still leads the way

It is as it was on day two of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, with overnight leader Shane Lowry the man still on top. The Irishman is currently one-under for his second round, after bogeys at the second and eighth were cancelled out by birdies at three, four and six.

Lowry is currently seven-under for the week and leads second-place Hideki Matsuyama by one shot.

LIV Golf stars make a splash in Full Swing

It remained to be seen whether any LIV Golf stars would be involved in season two of Netflix's Full Swing, which was released earlier this week. Fortuntately for fans of the breakaway circuit, both Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson play roles in the behind-the-scenes docu-series.

Read more on their roles below...

(Netflix)

Rory rolls one in

Rory McIlroy has the putter working at Bay Hill!

It was a frustrating opening round for McIlroy on Thursday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, but he has kickstarted his Friday round by a draining a superb birdie putt at the par-three second.

Satisfying breaker for birdie.@McIlroyRory pours it in! pic.twitter.com/h041T3dl63

LIV Golf snap up PGA Tour winner who bases his game on fellow rebel Mickelson — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 8, 2024

PGA Tour calls for LIV Golf merger

With a deal between the PGA Tour and Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia still yet to be signed off, Webb Simpson has called on agreement to be made sooner rather than later.

"We don’t want to just do a deal because we’re afraid that the LIV tour might recruit more players. That’s certainly a fear. But I think it’s obvious (we need to do a deal). The writing is on the wall. We’re not in a position where we need to do a deal for money. We need to do a deal for the good of the game. And for the health of the PGA Tour long-term. That’s my hope."

Read more below...

HONOLULU, HAWAII - JANUARY 11: Webb Simpson of the United States follows his shot from the fifth tee during the first round of the Sony Open in Hawaii at Waialae Country Club on January 11, 2024 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Lowry leads the way at Bay Hill

Over on the PGA Tour, day one of the Arnold Palmer Invitational was all about Shane Lowry, who leads the way at six-under-par. The Irishman made five birdies and one eagle on Thursday, an impressive showing around a course he has struggled with in the past.

|I've played here six times, I missed the cut five times. Last year I made the cut and shot 81 on Saturday and finished tied 67 or something around there," he said post-round. "Going out there with very low expectations today. I knew I was playing well. Golf's a funny game. Just had it under control today.

"I can give you, going back on my career around this place, I can, last year was my first year in a few years to play it, so I feel like I was a bit of a different golfer then. But, yeah, it's one of these places where some people love it. I've struggled with it over the years. I come here, it's a nice place to come, it's a good, obviously a great tournament, a huge tournament, and I'm very happy with that today."

Shane Lowry is gunning for his second win on American soil (Getty Images)

LIV Golf Hong Kong leaderboard

Following the end of round this morning, here is a look at the individual leaderboard at LIV Golf Hong Kong:

T1 - Dean Burmester -7

T1 - Abraham Ancer -7

T3 - Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra -6

T3 - Harold Varner III -6

T3 - Charles Howell III -6

T3 - Martin Kaymer -6

T3 - Louis Oosthuizen -6

T9 - Brooks Koepka -5

T9 - Bryson DeChambeau -5

(AP)

Nightmare start for Mickelson

Over on the LIV Golf circuit it was a day to forget for Phil Mickelson. The HyFlyers captain secured his best finish at a LIV event yet in Jeddah last week, but endured a nightmare start in Hong Kong on Thursday, sitting rock-bottom of the leaderboard at 10-over-par.

Abraham Ancer and Dean Burmester are the early pace setters, leader the way at seven-under. Elsewhere Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka enjoyed strong starts, currently sitting at five-under, with Masters champion Jon Rahm two shots further back.

Rory McIlroy makes LIV Golf decision

Rory McIlroy hinted he could well be open to a shock move to LIV Golf at some point in the future at last week's Cognizant Classic, after his former agent Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler claimed there was a '10 percent' chance he could make the switch.

A week on though, the Northern Irishman has squashed any rumours in an interview with ESPN. "It's not for me, I am too much of a traditionalist," McIlroy said.

"I love winning golf tournaments and looking at the trophy and seeing Sam Sneyd won this trophy, or Ben Hogan, or Gene Sarazen, or Jack Nicklaus, or Gary Player, or Tiger Woods, or Nick Faldo, or whoever it is. The people that came before me. That to me is a big deal in our game."

Read more below...

Welcome!

Welcome along to Friday's Mirror Sport golf blog. From the upcoming action on the course over at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, as well as the fallout from this morning's LIV Hong Kong opening round, you can follow all the updates here.