Bryson DeChambeau used a 2-under-par 70 through difficult, windy conditions to take over the pole position at LIV Golf Miami on Saturday at Trump National Doral.
“I’m up for anything,” DeChambeau said. “Whatever it brings me, I’m up for the challenge. It will be a great test tomorrow.”
DeChambeau, seeking his third LIV Golf individual title, crushed a 400-yard drive to secure a birdie on his first hole of the day. The reigning U.S. Open champion added birdies on Holes 5, 16 and 17 to counterbalance two bogeys and finish his day 5 under for the tournament, two strokes ahead of the competition.
“What a test of golf out there,” DeChambeau said. “This golf course, every single angle just produced the most testing golf shots out there that I’ve seen in a long time.”
No other Crushers GC teammates finished the day among the Top 14, though the Crushers are in a tie for third with Fireballs GC, each within three strokes of Ripper GC in the lead. 4AcesGC is second.
The Fireballs, seeking their fourth consecutive tournament title, are well represented by Sergio Garcia, who is alone in second place at 3 under after a 1-under round. His day featured birdies on Holes 1, 3 and 10, as well as bogeys on 6 and 17.
“It’s just a difficult golf course,” Garcia said. “It’s the Blue Monster. That’s just not a name; it comes with something. You have to respect it.”
Ripper GC’s Marc Leishman also shot 1 under to forge a three-way tie for third place at 2 under for the tournament. He’s tied with Patrick Reed (75) and Phil Mickelson (73).
“I started off very poorly; I was 3-over through three and lucky to be that,” Mickelson said. “I was able to hang in there, fight back and had a chance to shoot even par, which was amazing.”
Jon Rahm fired a 2-under 70 to get to 1 under for the tourney, tying him with Dean Burmester (71).
Dustin Johnson (75) is a stroke back in eighth place. Charl Schwartzel (75) and Cameron Tringale (72) are tied for ninth one stroke over par.
–Field Level Media
