DeChambeau sets the pace at LIV Mexico, two share team lead

Crushers GC captain Bryson DeChambeau on his way into the lead at LIV Golf Mexico City on Friday. Image courtesy LIV Golf.

From a Correspondent

Mexico City: After one last mighty lash into the thin air at LIV Golf Mexico City, Bryson DeChambeau pumped both arms, celebrated with his fans – and took the solo lead after Friday’s highly entertaining opening round at Club de Golf Chapultepec.
 
The Crushers GC captain birdied his final hole, the 396-yard par-4 first, by driving the green and two-putting from 35 feet, providing the finishing touch on an 8 under par 63 that leaves him one stroke ahead of two other captains, Legion XIII’s Jon Rahm and Ripper GC’s Cameron Smith. 
 
The Crushers and Rippers are tied for the team lead at 15 under, six shots clear of Smash GC.
 
DeChambeau, seeking his first LIV Golf win since 2023, averaged 367 yards on his 14 drives on Friday, including two drives of 400-plus yards. His final drive at the first hole travelled 372.9 yards. The 63 is his lowest-ever opening round in LIV Golf.
 
“It was fun hitting the ball far,” DeChambeau said. “Fun to finish off with a nice bang on the last hole.”
 
In all, the field produced 11 drives of 400 yards or longer in the 7,900-foot setting, with Smash captain Brooks Koepka having the longest drive at 435 yards on the 11th hole.

Long hitting

There were 66 more drives between 370 and 399 yards, giving the Mexico City fans plenty to cheer for during LIV Golf’s debut appearance in the nation’s capital.
 
“It’s always been exciting around here,” said RangeGoats GC captain Bubba Watson, who is in solo fourth after a 5-under 66.

“They love their sports. I’m glad they come out to watch us play golf and watch some of these guys hit it pretty far.”
 
DeChambeau started his day by driving the 316-yard par-4 second and holing a 22-foot putt for eagle. He followed with birdies on the next two holes, and also a birdie at the par-5 seventh (with a 379-yard drive) to move to 5 under after six holes.
 
But any thoughts of another sub-60 round disappeared during the next eight holes in which he played even par. 
 
“There was a lot of moments where I felt like I was going to get it to 9-, 10-under and there were moments where I’m like, man, I could be 3-under or 2-under easily if I don’t get my act in shape,” DeChambeau said. “It’s a teeter-totter golf course.”

Early pace

Rahm, the 2024 LIV Golf individual champion, opened with three consecutive birdies and was 5 under through seven before suffering a pair of bogeys.

He played the back nine in a bogey-free 4 under and briefly held the solo lead after draining a 39-foot birdie putt at the 13th.
 
“What better way to start it than with three birdies in a row,” he said. “That just set the tone. Felt really comfortable on the greens all day. Couldn’t really have asked for a much better score.”

mith, who like DeChambeau is seeking his first LIV Golf win since 2023, also started with three consecutive birdies. He had six birdies in his first eight holes en route to shooting 64, his lowest round of the season.
 
“I’ve put myself in a really good spot after round one,” said Smith, whose Rippers won the previous LIV Golf tournament in Miami, with his teammate Marc Leishman claiming the individual title. “Hopefully, I can go out there over the weekend and give it my all and hopefully walk away with a trophy.”
 
Having finished on the first hole Friday, DeChambeau will now start his second round on the same hole Saturday as part of the leaders’ group that includes Rahm and Smith. With course conditions firming up, the long drives should continue to be abundant.
 
“It’s going to get firm and fast out here,” DeChambeau said. “Be a lot of fun this weekend.” (courtesy LIV Golf)

Round 1 scores

T1. Ripper GC -15 (Smith 64, Herbert 68, Jones 68, Leishman 69)
 
T1. Crushers GC -15 (DeChambeau 63, Lahiri 68, Casey 69, Howell III 69)
 
3. Smash GC -9 (Kokrak 68, Gooch 69, Koepka 69, McDowell 69)
 
4. 4Aces GC -6 (Reed 68, Varner III 68, Johnson 71, Pieters 71)
 
5. Legion XIII -5 (Rahm 64, Hatton 67, Surratt 73, McKibbin 75)
 
6. Torque GC -4 (Niemann 68, Ortiz 68, Muñoz 72, Pereira 72)
 
7. Majesticks GC -2 (Poulter 69, Horsfield 70, Westwood 71, Stenson 72)
 
8. RangeGoats GC -1 (Watson 66, Wolff 69, Campbell 73, Uihlein 75)
 
T9. Fireballs GC +2 (Masaveu 70, Puig 70, Ancer 72, Garcia 74)
 
T9. HYFLYERS GC +2 (Steele 69, Mickelson 71, Ogletree 73, Tringale 73)
  
12. Stinger GC +5 (Schwartzel 70, Burmester 71, Grace 74, Oosthuizen 74)

13. Iron Heads GC +11 (Kozuma 72, Jang 73, Na 74, Lee 76)

Round 1 stats
Driving accuracy: Graeme McDowell, 85.71% (12 of 14 fairways hit)
Driving distance: Joaquin Niemann, 378.9 yards avg.
Longest drive: Joaquin Niemann, 407.1 yards, 12th hole
Greens in regulation: Marc Leishman 88.89% (16 of 18 greens)
Scrambling: Matthew Wolff (7 of 7), Bryson DeChambeau (5 of 5), Marc Leishman (2 of 2), 100%
Putting: Dean Burmester, 1.28 putts per hole

Also read: Marc Leishman and the Rippers take it all at LIV Golf Miami