Schwartzel remained at the Centurion Club in Saint Albans, near London, after three laps 7 strokes below the track average. That would have required him one stroke less than his compatriot Hennie du Plessis. Branden Grace, also from South Africa, finished third with -5.
The LIV Invitational Series is controversial because it is funded by investors from Saudi Arabia. The prize pool of the first tournament was about double that of each of the four majors at $25 million.
The American organization PGA announced Thursday that it had suspended 17 dissident golfers. The PGA issued the disciplinary action just as the first round of the opening tournament had begun.
Big names are among the suspended players, including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Charl Schwartzel. The suspended golfers will no longer be allowed to play in any PGA Tour tournament and will not be selected for the Presidents Cup. Ten of the 17 golfers, including two-time major champion Johnson, had already canceled their PGA Tour membership.
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