Sebastian Munoz made a stunning comeback at the LIV Golf Indianapolis event, shooting 13 birdies in his final 14 holes to finish 12-under par 71 at 59. This performance marked the first sub-60 round since Joaquin Niemann’s 59 at Mayakoba last year. Munoz, who joined LIV in 2023, nearly broke the LIV record of 58 with his comeback round. Dustin Johnson is second behind Munoz at 9 under with a 62, followed by a four-way tie for third between Cameron Smith, Patrick Reed, Thomas Pieters, and Niemann. Torque GC leads the team leaderboard with a 23 under ahead of 4Aces GC at 19 under following the first round. Indianapolis marks the final regular-season tournament, with team results heavily emphasized for seedings in next week’s Michigan Team Championship. Munoz’s performance could give him a shot at more in the upcoming rounds.
Imagine this. A golfer te’s off and in a single round sinks an astonishing 13 birdies out of 14 holes. That’s not just impressive, it’s downright insane. Welcome to the world of Live Golf, where records are made to be broken. And Sebastian Munoz just did exactly that. Let’s dive into the thrilling opening round at the club at Cadam Hills in Westfield, Indiana, where Munoz’s Birdie Barrage left the competition in awe. But here’s where it gets controversial. Is this level of performance sustainable or is it a one-hit wonder? You decide. Sebastian Munoz, the 32-year-old Colombian sensation, didn’t just start strong, he finished stronger. After a shaky start with a couple of pars and a birdie, followed by a double bogey on the fifth hole. Munoz flipped the switch. He embarked on a spectacular run, sinking 13 birdies in his final 14 holes, including an incredible streak of eight consecutive birdies. This performance culminated in a 12 under par 71, bringing his total to a jaw-dropping 59. This is the part most people miss. Munoz’s round was not just about the numbers. It was about mental fortitude and resilience. It was an awesome, awesome day, Munoz reflected. There was a lot of mental strength out there. I started decent. A couple of birdies and then a couple of bad shots in a row, but instead of dwelling on his mistakes, Mun forgave himself and focused on the task at hand. I ended up making a double and, you know, kind of forgave myself. He said this mental toughness is what sets Munoz apart. He didn’t let early struggles define his round. Instead, he used them as fuel to ignite his comeback. Ranked seventh in the LIV individual standings, Munoz joined LIIV Golf in 2023 and has been making waves ever since. His round at the club at Chattam Hills was a testament to his skill and determination. He came agonizingly close to breaking the LIIV record of 58 set by Bryson Dashambo at Greenbryer in 2023. But Munoz’s performance was more than just a record attempt. It was a masterclass in golfing excellence. After his initial eight holes, Munoz lingered in the top six before steadily climbing the leaderboard. Chile’s Waqin Neman, another Torque GC teammate, flirted with the top spot, but ultimately fell short. I didn’t want to hold on and have a grudge all day, so I kind of forgot to forgive my strength, Munoz remarked on his early struggles. ended up chipping in for birdie on six, birdie seven and eight and nine and 10 and then 12 and 13. Munoz parred on 14 before finishing with five straight birdies, a feat he had never accomplished before, something I’ve never done. I mean, I’ve done eight birdies in a row, I’ve tied my personal record, but 13 out of 14 is insane, Muno said. I’ve never sniffed that. So really proud of the way I handled the day, started the day, and how I just came out and sorted through. This level of performance is not just about physical skill. It’s about mental resilience and the ability to bounce back from setbacks. Dustin Johnson of 4 aces GC is hot on Munoz’s heels, sitting at nine under with a 62. behind him. The four-way tie for third place features Cameron Smith, Ripper GC, Patrick Reed, four aces GC, Thomas Peters, four aces GC, and Nean each shooting seven under at 64. Nean held the advantage after the front nine, but faltered with a double bogey on the 16th hole, allowing Munos to take the lead. I saw he was like eight under, and John Rom, Legion 13, told me that he started with a double and then eight birdies in a row. So yeah, he’s hot and he’s a really hot player. Neman said, “We’ve seen that a lot of times and yeah, it was pretty cool. It’s nice to have one of those rounds with Mido Pereira tied for 24th at three under and Carlos Ortiz tied for 38th at 1under. Torque GC led the team leaderboard with a 23 under ahead of four aces GC at 19 under following the first round. We talked about it early in the week. The whole thing is in a way about good momentum. Neman said, “I feel like we’ve been playing great golf lately. You can see Mido how good he’s playing. You can see the confidence of his swing and the T-shots and on every shot that he’s hitting right now. Torque GC has placed second in the past two tournaments, including at Chicago last weekend, where they lost in a playoff finale to Stinger GC. Currently, Legion 13 leads the team standings, followed by Crushers GC, Fireballs GC, and Torque GC. Indianapolis marks the final regular season tournament with a heavy emphasis on team results and seedings for next week’s Michigan Team Championship up for grabs. Teams with the highest seedings after Live Golf Indianapolis will have the advantage of selecting their opponents for the quarterfinal round. Torque GC hasn’t won a team tournament championship this season, but Munoz’s near record setting day changed that potential. Yeah, I got a sense like when I was watching Waqen with Carlos on one of the screens in the course, we saw that he started hot and I’m like, “Oh, he’s going to have a chance for 59.” And then I just kept making birdies, Muno said. Kept making birdies and then all of a sudden I’m like, “Oh, I got the chance.” Another strong two days in front of the event’s second straight sellout for ground passes at the club at Cadam Hills today could give Munoz a shot at more. Chipping was really good for me just to kind of forget about the double and just kind of get in the flow with things. Muno said, “I hope that I can, you know, keep playing good and having a lot cooler moments in the next couple of days.” Neman remains in control of LIIV golf individual title. Torque GC’s Neman came to Westfield seeking to become the fourth different season individual champion in LIIV golf history. While he faded slightly in the standings, the team captain remains right on course. Neman sits in a four-way tie for third at 7 under on the leaderboard, but his 208.43 points accumulated to date give him a comfortable lead over his closest pursuer Rom 196.16. The 12.27 27 margin difference keeps the door open for Neman, who is attempting to dethrone Rahm. Last week, Rahm lost in a three-way tiebreaker playoff in Chicago to champion Dean Burmeister, Stinger GC, but he was able to close the gap on Neman. Rahm must place seventh or better to potentially pass up Neman, who can fend off the Spaniard by either winning or placing second in LIIV Golf Indianapolis. If Neman finishes third or fourth, then Rahm can claim a repeat by winning the regular season finale. If Rahm places second, then Nean must fall to fifth, sixth, seventh, or eighth. If Neman is 9th through 13th, then Rahm can seize the title by finishing third or better. A Neman 14th or 15th finish means Rahm can win at fourth or higher. The worst case for Neman is failing to break the top 25, which would allow Rahm to win by placing seventh or better. It’s a new week. We’ve got to have a good start and we got to keep that momentum going. Nean said, “It’s definitely on my mind. I mean, it’s something that I really focus on trying not to think that way. I feel like whenever I play my best game, my best golf, my best swings are whenever I’m present in the moment. While paying attention to Munos throughout the day, Neiman stayed grounded in his game, especially being paired with Rahm and Desambo. Rahm is locked in a 12-way tie for 12th on the leaderboard with the likes of former majors champion Phil Mickelson, Highflyers GC at four under at 67. I’m not thinking about what might happen. I’m not thinking about points. I’m not chasing any points, any score. I’m just getting the shot that is right in front of me. Neman said, I think Rahm is a great competitor. He’s somebody that’s never given up. He’s a fighter, so it’s always nice to be around people like that, so it’s always pushing you. So, what do you think? Is Munoz’s performance a fluke, or is he the real deal? And how will Neman’s quest for the individual title play out? The stage is set for an exciting finish in Indianapolis.
