Johnson, Ortiz tied for lead in LIV Golf event in Portland

By ANNE M. PETERSON
AP Sports Writer

The outcry that marked the start of the Saudi Arabia-funded LIV Golf series’ first American stop quieted a bit on Friday, putting the focus on the play at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club. Modest crowds and mild temperatures in the mid-70s greeted the players on the upstart series, bankrolled by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, which is trying to shake up the PGA Tour. But there has been widespread criticism because of Saudi Arabia’s human rights abuses. Dustin Johnson, the 2020 Masters winner, and Carlos Ortiz were tied for the lead going into the final round of the 54-hole tournament Saturday.