Jon Rahm to Sergio Garcia: "You don't think this is the whole mouth?"

Sergio Garcia told reporters he's played Valderrama in tougher conditions but the storied venue definitely showed its teeth on a brutal first day at LIV Golf Andalucia. 

Garcia managed to card a two-under 69 which left him three behind the early pacesetter Dean Burmester. 

Unsurprisingly the Spaniard played alongside home favourite Jon Rahm. 

Rahm had a tough day on the breakaway tour, carding a 73 to sit in a tie for 16th. 

The 2023 Masters champion is yet to win on the rival league and has form has been questioned ahead of the final men's major of the year. 

"I was talking to Jon a lot," Garcia told reporters after the opening round.  

"And I said to him early on, I think it was like on the second or third hole. 

"I said, you can definitely see the teeth at Valderrama today. I said not probably the whole mouth but you can definitely see the teeth.

"He was like, 'You don't think this is the whole mouth?'

"I was like, 'No, I've played tougher than this.'

"It was up there [in terms of difficulty]. It was solid. But I probably would say that the other wind, as hard as this, is probably a tougher wind to play the golf course."

Burmester is enjoying a stellar season. 

Two victories on the DP World Tour saw the South African earn a spot at next week's Open. 

And he claimed his first LIV victory in Miami earlier in the season. 

"It was probably one of the best putting rounds I've ever had as a professional," he said. 

"Just every time I stood over a putt, I just felt like could I make it. 

"You don't get days like that too often but certainly I don't."

He added: "I managed to hit a lot of good shots as well. 

"It was a special day and to be playing with Branden [Grace] and Charl [Schwartzel] and to enjoy that with them was super cool."

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