Kaymer, Meronk and Surratt set the tone at LIV Golf Houston

HUMBLE, Texas — Martin Kaymer played bogey-free on a scorching Texas afternoon for a 7-under 65, giving him a share of the lead Friday with two more at LIV Golf Houston during the final event before Kaymer returns to Pinehurst No. 2. for the US Open.

Poland’s Adrian Meronk and Caleb Surratt were also 65s at The Golf Club of Houston, the former home of the Shell Houston Open on the PGA Tour.

Kaymer won the U.S. Open at No. 2 Pinehurst in 2014, the second of his two majors, with an eight-shot victory on a course that yielded just three under-par scores for the week.

The German has only one top 20 finish on LIV Golf this year, although he felt his game starting to improve a month ago.

“Little things…once they get going, cycles like this can happen,” Kaymer said. “I’m happy to have had such a good round today. It gives me confidence for tomorrow and Sunday, and also for the US Open. Obviously, it’s a huge event on the schedule, especially on this course of golf I hope I can continue to evolve in this direction.

This is the final year of his 10-year US Open exemption.

Kevin Na and Carlos Ortiz each shot 66, while the large group of 67 included Dustin Johnson, Ian Poulter and Patrick Reed, who lives in the Houston area.

The score was so low that only 10 players were above average, including Anthony Kim and Richard Bland, who was coming off a victory at the Senior PGA Championship.