While Bryson DeChambeau continued his quick-start prowess Friday, Talor Gooch hopes his opening-round performance at LIV Golf Korea presented by Coupang Play will jump-start his season.
DeChambeau, the Crushers GC Captain, rolled in a 10-foot birdie putt on his final hole to shoot a bogey-free 7-under 65 and join Gooch atop the individual leaderboard at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea. It’s the second consecutive week that DeChambeau has held at least a share of the lead after 18 holes, and the fifth time in his last seven worldwide starts – including the recent Masters – in which he’s been in a top-5 position after the opening round.
“It was a tough, grueling round of golf,” said DeChambeau, who finished tied for fifth last week at LIV Golf Mexico City. “I was proud of the way I stuck in there. I played some great golf today.”
Gooch, in his second season with Smash GC, posted six birdies during an eight-hole stretch to fuel his round of 65. His stellar iron play looked very familiar to the form he displayed in 2023 when he won three tournaments and the 2023 LIV Golf Individual Championship while playing with RangeGoats GC.
After a disappointing 2024 season and a sluggish start to 2025, his last two starts have been encouraging, with top-15 finishes in Miami and Mexico City. Friday’s round was another positive step.
“Yeah, it was a tough start to the year,” said Gooch, who put together two streaks of three consecutive birdies between the second and ninth holes. “The game was pretty rusty. It’s been nice these past couple events to show some life and get some good golf going again.
“Hopefully this round kind of kick-starts a good rest of the season and we can kind of channel some of that 2023 season again.”
With Gooch and DeChambeau leading their teams, Smash and Crushers also stand atop the leaderboard. Smash – captained by Brooks Koepka – shot a cumulative 10 under to lead the Crushers by one shot. The RangeGoats, who have Korean player Minkyu Kim in their lineup this week, are in solo third at 8 under.
Fourth in the team standings is Stinger GC, captained by Louis Oosthuizen, who is tied for third with Cleeks GC’s Richard Bland on the individual leaderboard at 6 under. Ten years ago, Oosthuizen went undefeated at the Presidents Cup at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea, winning four matches with partner Branden Grace and halving his singles match with another future LIV Golf player, Patrick Reed.
Grace, now one of his Stingers teammates, is out this week with an injury, but Oosthuizen said he still found time to reminisce. “Definitely today on a few occasions I remember shots that I hit back in 2015,” Oosthuizen said. “Just good memories.”
DeChambeau and Gooch each seek to carve out some good memories this weekend in Korea. Last week in Mexico City didn’t end as well as DeChambeau hoped, and last season certainly didn’t provide many positives for Gooch inside the ropes. But both are feeling upbeat after Friday.
“I’m excited for the weekend,” DeChambeau said. “It’s going to be a fun battle.”
Graeme McDowell struggled to a one-over round while McKibbin’s drop in individual form continued after a two-over round left him in a share of 43rd place.
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