Crushers GC captain Bryson DeChambeau held the lead at LIV Golf Korea for a second straight day in Incheon on Saturday and will be keen to end the event atop the podium. Image courtesy LIV Golf.
From a Correspondent
Incheon, South Korea: Bryson DeChambeau was the sole leader after 36 holes for a record-setting third consecutive LIV Golf tournament. The drama on Sunday now focuses on whether he will convert his latest opportunity into a victory.
The Crushers GC captain shot his second consecutive bogey-free round at LIV Golf Korea presented by Coupang Play, carding a second-round 6 under par 66 for a 13-under total and a four-shot lead over Cleeks GC’s Richard Bland.
It’s the fifth 36-hole lead that DeChambeau has held since joining LIV Golf and is also his largest advantage. But DeChambeau has yet to capitalise on any of those leads, including the two previous LIV Golf tournaments.
Last month in Miami, he led by two shots entering the final round but was overtaken by Ripper GC’s Marc Leishman.
Last week in Mexico City, he led by one before Joaquin Niemann rallied on Sunday. DeChambeau’s two LIV Golf wins in 2023 came when having to play catch-up to start the final round.
Asked what he must do Sunday at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea to close out a tournament that’s clearly within his grasp, DeChambeau replied: “Just be a kid out there. Have a lot of fun. Go back to my roots. Just get it done.”’
Not having fun was his teammate Anirban Lahiri. The Indian star was sailing in round two till a moment of cruel luck that robbed him and the team of critical places on the leaderboard.
Bad break
Playing alongside Dean Burmester of the Stingers, Lahiri had carded three straight birdies going into the ninth hole, but his approach shot hit the flagstick and shot across the length of the green into the water.
That resulted in a double bogey, and the distraught Lahiri followed with a triple on the next hole and another double on the 12th en route to a 7 over 79.
“How brutal this game can be to anybody,” Burmester said. “A head-spinner. If that was me, I think I would’ve jumped in the lake.”
Burmester offered some words of encouragement to Lahiri but knew the damage had been done. “He’s a good friend of mine and we get along well,” he said. “It was tough to see him go through that today.”
Smash GC also would like to get it done Sunday for their first team win of the season. Although 18-hole co-leader Talor Gooch fell back after a 71 on Saturday, his teammates picked him up.
Jason Kokrak joined Gooch in a tie for third after shooting a 67, while Graeme McDowell shot 69 and captain Brooks Koepka shot 70.
The team’s 11 under total moved them to 21 under for the first two rounds, six shots clear of the three teams tied for second – Torque GC, RangeGoats GC and the Crushers.
“Along with myself, I don’t think BK, Graeme or Gooch have gotten off to a very good start (to the season) at all team-wise, individual-wise, kind of collectively,” Kokrak said. “So, looking to turn that around tomorrow.”
DeChambeau has been flawless the first two days in Korea, particularly off the tee with an impressive combination of power and accuracy.
He leads the field with a 342.2-yard driving distance average and is tied for fourth in driving accuracy, hitting 25 of 28 fairways.
The 52-year-old Bland will be among his playing partners on Sunday, creating a unique final group that includes the reigning US Open and US Senior Open champions.
Bland can’t match DeChambeau’s length and knows that a four-shot deficit will be difficult to overcome.
Tailor made
“This kind of course is tailor-made for him,” Bland said of DeChambeau. “I’ve probably got to shoot something in double digits to get anywhere near him.”
Burmester is among those tied for third, four shots behind DeChambeau. Burmester has an ace and three other hole-outs this week but was disappointed that a late bogey cost him a chance to be in the final group.
Asked what it would take to catch DeChambeau, Burmester replied: “Drive it past him, see if I can get into his head.” Then he added: “Just kidding.”
It’s now down to serious business in Korea, particularly for DeChambeau.
Besides his recent LIV Golf near-misses, he also led last month’s Masters with 16 holes to play before falling back. That recent string gives him plenty of motivation to hoist a trophy – or two with his team – on Sunday.
“Given that we’re a global team, it would be awesome to win here in Korea,” DeChambeau said. “The fans are great. I think the Korean fans like the Crushers. I know they like the Iron Heads a little bit more.
“Hopefully we’re a close second, and hopefully we can give them some fun for tomorrow.”
Round 2 scores
1. Smash GC -21 (Kokrak 67, McDowell 69, Koepka 70, Gooch 71; Rd. 2 score: -11)
T2. Torque GC -15 (Ortiz 66, Muñoz 67, Niemann 71, Pereira 71; Rd. 2 score: -13)
T2. RangeGoats GC -15 (Watson 69, Wolff 69, Uihlein 71, M. Kim 72; Rd. 2 score: -7)
T2. Crushers GC -15 (DeChambeau 66, Howell III 66, Casey 71, Lahiri 79; Rd. 2 score: -6)
5. Stinger GC -13 (Burmester 68, Schwartzel 68, Oosthuizen 71, Catlin 75; Rd. 2 score: -6)
6. Legion XIII -10 (Rahm 66, Surratt 68, Hatton 70, McKibbin 74; Rd. 2 score: -10)
7. Majesticks GC -6 (Horsfield 70, Westwood 70, Poulter 73, Stenson 73; Rd. 2 score: -2)
T8. 4Aces GC -5 (Pieters 67, Johnson 69, Reed 70, Varner III 74; Rd. 2 score: -8)
T8. Ripper GC -5 (Smith 66, Herbert 67, Jones 74, Leishman 75; Rd. 2 score: -6)
10. Cleeks GC -2 (Bland 69, Meronk 72, Kjettrup 74, Kaymer 77; Rd. 2 score: +4)
T11. HyFlyers GC -1 (Steele 68, Tringale 69, Mickelson 70, Ogletree 72; Rd. 2 score: -9)
T11. Iron Heads GC -1 (Kozuma 70, Na 70, Jang 71, Lee 77; Rd. 2 score: E)
13. Fireballs GC +1 (Puig 68, Masaveu 70, Garcia 72, Ancer 74; Rd. 2 score: -4)
Wild Cards: C. Lee 71. A. Kim 74
Round 2 stats
Driving accuracy: Bubba Watson, Sebastián Muñoz, Abraham Ancer, 100% (14 of 14 fairways hit)
Driving distance average (for measured holes 3 and 16): Bryson DeChambeau, 342.9 yards avg.
Longest drive (includes all holes): Matthew Wolff, 362 yards, 3rd hole
Greens in regulation: Richard Bland, 88.89% (16 of 18 greens)
Scrambling: Graeme McDowell (7 of 7), Sebastián Muñoz (5 of 5), Jon Rahm (5 of 5), Carlos Ortiz (3 of 3), Bryson DeChambeau (3 of 3), Richard Bland (2 of 2), 100%
Putting: Charles Howell III, Dean Burmester, 1.28 putts per hole
Bogey-free rounds: Bryson DeChambeau (66), Carlos Ortiz (66), Jon Rahm (66), Sebastián Muñoz (67), Graeme McDowell (69)
Also read: Gooch and DeChambeau share day one lead at LIV Golf Korea
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