'Twist Swing' Wolf "10-Under Par Course Record"... What About Kang Seonghun?

Worldwide Technology Championship Day 1: Wise at 8 Under Par in 2nd Place, Kirk Energized by Hole-in-One on First Hole

Matthew Wolff is teeing off on the first hole on the first day of the Worldwide Technology Championship. Riviera Maya, Mexico=Getty Images/Multivitz

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "Ten birdies."

‘Twist Swing’ Matthew Wolff's early burst. On the 5th (Korean time) at El Camaleon Golf Club (Par 71, 7,017 yards) in Riviera Maya, Mexico, the opening day of the PGA Tour 2021/2022 season's 7th event, the Worldwide Technology Championship (total prize money $7.2 million), he shot 10 under par to take a two-stroke lead. Aaron Wise was second (8 under par, 63 strokes), while Chris Kirk (both from the USA) and Sergio Garcia (Spain) tied for third place (7 under par, 64 strokes).

Wolff is the 2019 July 3M Open champion. At that time, just one month after turning professional, he won the tournament as a sponsor invite, causing a sensation. Especially, his so-called ‘Twist Swing,’ where he twists his left leg just before the swing, drew even more spotlight. Last year, he finished runner-up three times?in June at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, in September at the US Open, and in October at the Shriners?causing some frustration. In the new season, he also finished second at the Shriners last October.

On this day, he started well with a birdie on the 10th hole (par 3), followed by consecutive birdies on the 13th and 14th holes, and another birdie on the 16th hole (par 4), gaining momentum. The highlight was three consecutive birdies from the 18th to the 2nd hole in the back nine. His long drives reached up to 328 yards, and his green hit rate was 77.78%, showcasing his ‘needle-like iron shots,’ complemented by an average of 1.50 putts per hole, demonstrating ‘stingy putting.’ He added three ‘stepping stone birdies’ on the final 5th, 7th, and 9th holes. He expressed confidence, saying, "I made no mistakes throughout the round."

Kirk made another newsworthy moment with a hole-in-one on the 10th hole. The first hole-in-one on the opening hole since Keith Mitchell (USA) in the first round of 2017, four years ago. Defending champion Viktor Hovland (Norway) finished tied for 20th at 4 under par, and world No. 7 Justin Thomas (USA) completed his warm-up tied for 36th at 3 under par. From Korea, Kang Sung-hoon (34, CJ Logistics) joined the group tied for 36th, recording five birdies and two bogeys. ‘Bermuda Champ’ Lucas Herbert (Australia) struggled with 4 over par and dropped to a tie for 126th place.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.