Varner went bogey-free on Thursday (Friday AEDT) with seven birdies at Las Vegas Country Club, while Casey absorbed his only bogey of the day early in his round before charging his way up the leaderboard with eight birdies.
The pair are two shots ahead of a four-way tie at five under, which includes three RangeGoats GC teammates - captain Bubba Watson, Matthew Wolff and Belgium's Thomas Pieters. The trio have the RangeGoats on top of the team leaderboard by a stroke.
Casey had what he called a "silly error" on his third hole of the day, the par-4 10th, with a three-putt bogey. Then he shifted gears with six birdies in his next nine holes, including a hole-out from a greenside bunker at the par-4 18th.
Ridiculous touch from the bunker for Paul Casey 👀— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) He's level with Watson and HV3 at the top of leaderboard… #LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/kYkIYxLM30February 8, 2024
"My caddie said it had five or six written all over it and I turned it into a three," Casey said.
"Sometimes you need those little momentum-swinging shots."
A member of Crushers GC, Casey has had a hard time finding success on the LIV circuit. In 2023, he began the season with a fourth-placed finish and never finished in the top 20 the rest of the way.
Now the 46-year-old is in prime position entering the final two days of LIV's first event in Las Vegas.
"Love being part of the Crushers, but I don't feel I've done my bit contributing and having that individual success, as well," Casey said.
Varner felt the same way, saying he "didn't pull (his) weight last week" for 4Aces GC. The American finished dead last at the season opener at Mayakoba at 14 over par.
He started his round at No.4, birdied his first two holes and was well on his way.
HV3 flag hunting out of the gate 🔥— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) He's 3-under through 5 holes 👀#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/wZr6SOyUbsFebruary 8, 2024
"When I made birdies, it was like, all right, let's go birdie the next one," he said.
"It's like riding a bike."
Tied for seventh at four under are Talor Gooch, Peter Uihlein, India's Anirban Lahiri and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell.
Behind them are some big names. Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Australia's Cameron Smith and LIV newcomer Tyrrell Hatton of England are part of a large tie at three under. Spain's Jon Rahm is two under, along with Brooks Koepka and last week's winner, Joaquin Niemann of Chile.
10°C