Bryson DeChambeau overcame a topped tee shot to record a 6-under-par 66 and gain a share of the lead on Thursday after the first round of LIV Adelaide in Australia.
DeChambeau finds himself tied with Australia’s Marc Leishman despite his tee shot on the par-5, 529-yard 10th hole at a blustery Grange Golf Club landing on the ground only feet from where he started. Luckily for the two-time U.S. Open champion, the ball took a bounce and traveled 245 yards.
“Oh yeah, it was a great line drive into the tee box and bounced it off the cart path,” DeChambeau joked. “I had a nice scuff mark.”
DeChambeau rebounded nicely. He used his fairway wood to hit the green, then made two putts to secure his birdie before blitzing through the remainder of the back nine with four birdies. The fortunate finish allowed DeChambeau to flash a smile at the end of his round.
“Last time I did that was 2021 Players Championship off the fourth tee box and it cost me The Players,” DeChambeau said while reflecting on his unintentional tee shot. “I’ve done it before.
“But that shot was more of a thin shot. I just hit too far down on the ball. I actually struck it nicely. It was a perfect strike right into the tee box. It was awesome. Got to make sure I don’t hit it with too negative an attack angle next time.”
As for Leishman, his bogey-free round allowed him a chance to ponder what it would be like to win in his home country.
“I’ve never seen an Australian win an individual title in Australia at a LIV event, which I think would be pretty special,” Leishman said.
“Obviously, I was a part of the team win in 2024, and that felt like winning a major for me. It was pretty awesome to have so many people that were equally as happy to celebrate with.
“(But) I think an Australian winning here would be massive, and it would feel different.”
Former World No.1 Dustin Johnson and Anthony Kim were one stroke back at 5-under, helping 4Aces GC hold a two-shot lead at 10-under in the team competition.
Defending champion Joaquin Niemann and Jon Rahm are part of a four-golfer contingent at 4-under. Niemann’s efforts helped Torque GC reside in a three-way tie for second place in the team competition at 8-under with RangeGoats GC and Leishman’s Ripper GC.
Former World No. 2 Cameron Smith, the Ripper GC captain, overcame a bogey on each of his first three holes to finish at even-par 72, tied for 33rd place.
–Field Level Media
