LIV leader DeChambeau faces another final-round test

Perth Now

03-05-2025

Bryson DeChambeau will win his first LIV Golf event of the year if he can avoid another final-day capitulation, having taken a four-stroke lead after two rounds in South Korea.
Crushers GC's Bryson DeChambeau and Taylor Gooch of Smash GC shared the lead after shooting seven-under 65s on Friday.
But as Gooch battled to a second round of one-under 71 on Saturday, DeChambeau maintained his hot start while producing six birdies to card a six-under 66.
"Just giving myself plenty of chances, and if I continue to do the same, it will be a great Sunday," he said.
"So got to focus on having fun and playing like a kid."
The two-time major winner is sitting pretty at 13 under, with Cleeks GC's Richard Bland (nine under) his closest rival at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in Incheon.
DeChambeau seemingly enjoyed the course more than the previous LIV tournament at Club de Golf Chapultepec, where cameras captured him complaining about the "worst f***ing bunkers ever".
The American led at the start of the third and final day in Mexico, only to collapse with an even-par 71 to finish three strokes behind winner Joaquin Niemann.
That stumble was his first outing since this year's memorable Masters meltdown.
DeChambeau took the lead early in the final round at Augusta before unravelling to finish three-over 75, four strokes behind Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose.
Australian Lucas Herbert is tied ninth in South Korea at six under, having squandered a chance to rise further up the leaderboard on Saturday with bogeys on the 12th and 16th holes in a five-under round of 67.
Herbert's Ripper GC captain Cameron Smith finished Friday one-over 73 but enjoyed a much better second day out, carding six-under 66.