Bryson DeChambeau will take a two-stroke lead into the weekend at the inaugural LIV Golf South Africa, while the home fans have plenty to cheer about as Branden Grace and Dean Burmester are in the hunt and Southern Guards GC are challenging for team honours in Steyn City.
DeChambeau began the day in a tie for the lead with teammate Charles Howell III but quickly took control with a spectacular eagle at the par-4 first. He was five-under through his first five holes, looking as if he may run away with the tournament.
But last week’s Singapore winner cooled off, playing his next 10 holes at even par before finishing with a tap-in birdie on the par-5 18th. DeChambeau’s 6-under 65 stretched his score to 14-under for the week, with Grace and Fireballs GC’s David Puig his closest pursuers at 12-under.
“Making birdies and playing great golf matters, and I still get frustrated and disappointed when things don’t go my way,” DeChambeau said. “But I look back on it ultimately when I give a fist bump or a high five, that weighs a lot more on me, and I think it’s really cool to see that we’re doing this around the globe, especially here in South Africa.”
“This is exactly where I want to be going into the weekend,” Grace said. “Coming in, I know tomorrow is going to be even more electrifying than today – and we’re ready.”
Jon Rahm is part of a four-way tie for fourth that includes another home favourite in Dean Burmester, and it was arguably the South African who stole the show as he electrified the home crowd after each of his multiple great shots and holed putts. It was especially true when he donned the just-released jersey of the South African Bafana Bafana soccer team at the par-3 17th, then nearly walked in a hole-in-one.
“I’m having a hell of a lot of fun, I’m not going to lie,” said the affable Burmester. “It’s incredible the reception that we’ve all got. I’m sure all four of us have got. I walk on every tee box, walking down every fairway to every green, they’re all shouting my name … It’s hard not to smile out there; I’m not going to lie.”
It was an up-and-down day for Tom McKibbin, who managed to card three birdies and an eagle but threw in a bogey, a double bogey and a triple bogey to end the round in a share of 44th place on -2 while Graeme McDowell’s three-over 74 dropped him into a tie for 54th.
Torque GC lead the way in the team standings at -36, two ahead of the all-South African Southern Guards with Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs in third, one stroke further adrift.
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