DeChambeau Continues His Top Of Board Play In South Africa.

2 months ago by Comments Off on DeChambeau Continues His Top Of Board Play In South Africa.

Just a week after capturing LIV Singapore and Bryson DeChambeau is sharing the lead after day one of the inaugural LIV Golf South Africa.

In his last tournament before the Masters, DeChambeau produced nine birdies in an eight-under 63 for the Crushers captain to be tied with team-mate Charlies Howell 111 on the host The Club course at Steyn City near the capital Johannesburg.

Local hero Branden Grace kept the patriotic fans on the toes with the Southern Guards sharing third at seven-under with Fireballs captain Sergio Garcia.

And Grace’s effort has the Soutern Guards – Charl Schwartzel, Dean Burmester and captain Louis Oosthizen – out front by a shot in the team format.

However it was DeChambeau commanding the attention and after having to wait just under a year last week for a 15th pro career victory, the double Major champ is already staring at back-to-back LIV Golf wins.

“What an environment,” DeChambeau said.

“South Africa showed out today, and it’s only Thursday. I’m quite impressed with the environment here and the people and the love that we felt today. It really energizes all of us players and makes us want to give back more. It’s awesome.”

Howell produced his league-leading sixth bogey-free round of the season, leading the field in Strokes Gained Putting on greens softened by torrential rain the previous day. He knows the appreciation shown to all players on Thursday may grow increasingly partisan toward the local favorites as the week progresses.

“I know it’s a big week for them, a special week for them, but it’s also a big week for LIV and LIV Golf on a global scale and what this can look like and what this can be,” Howell said. “I’m quite sure the next three days will be pretty crazy and chaotic out there.”

Oosthuizen, who posted a 69 sooke of his delight for his team, the home fans and being on home soil.

TOP OF THE LEADERBOARDS

Individual Top 10

T1 (-8) – Bryson DeChambeau, Crushers (63); Charles Howell III, Crushers (63)

T3 (-7) – Branden Grace, Southern Guards (64); Sergio Garcia, Fireballs (64)

T5 (-6) – Talor Gooch, Smash (65); Jon Rahm, Legion XIII (65)

T7 (-5) – Cameron Smith, Ripper (66); Charl Schwartzel, Southern Guards (66); Lee Westwood, Majesticks (66); Richard Bland, Cleeks (66); Scott Vincent, Wild Card (66); David Puig, Fireballs (66); Harold Varner III, Smash (66); Thomas Detry, 4Aces (66); Jason Kokrak, Smash (66); Abraham Ancer, Torque (66)

Team Top 3

1 (-18) – Southern Guards (Grace 64, Schwartzel 66, Burmester 67, Oosthuizen 69)

2 (-17) – Smash GC (Gooch 65, Kokrak 66, Varner III 66, McDowell 70)

3 (-16) – Crushers GC (DeChambeau, 63, Howell 63, Lahiri 69, Casey 73)



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