– Bryson DeChambeau (-14) has moved into sole possession of the lead at LIV Golf South Africa after the second round. The Californian has posted a 65 and holds a two-shot lead over David Puig (-12) and Branden Grace (-12) and three over Jon Rahm (-11), Dean Burmester (-11), Abraham Ancer (-11) and Charles Howell III (-11).
DeChambeau’s start was devastating, with an eagle holed from the rough, around 20 metres from the hole, and a breathtaking putt at the next hole. It was as if he had caught the feverish atmosphere of the crowd at The Club at Steyn City and burst into life. He would make six more birdies during the day, although a chaotic 12th hole, where all his shots were poor, ended in a double bogey and an absolute halt. Until that moment it seemed like two different tournaments were being played: Bryson’s and everyone else’s.
The course is too small for DeChambeau. If you combine his monstrous driving with the tenderness of the greens, it becomes almost child’s play for him. In any case, conditions are very easy for everyone, so you can’t afford to be careless. Today, for example, only six players returned rounds under par. Especially puzzling was Tyrrell Hatton’s +3.
– The big news is that Puig (-12) and Rahm (-11) are right in the mix for the victory. The La Garriga player posted the lowest round of the day, a 64, with eight birdies and a bogey. The course is perfect for David to unleash all his aggression. He’s in his element. Also, although the greens are very receptive, the ball actually rolls extremely well. As we say: an explosive combo.
Puig has long had the first LIV Golf victory of his career as a major target. The timing, certainly, could hardly be more opportune. After all, a win would put him on the doorstep of the The Masters at Augusta and still with the tournament of the Hero Indian Open to come.
– Jon Rahm (-11) keeps on going. This gentleman from Barrika is simply out of this world. He posted a 66 and that despite the putter not being particularly dialled in. He holed some, yes, but left many out there. He started a little more hesitant from tee to green, but gradually found his rhythm and finished very well, putting for eagle from barely four metres on 18, for example. It didn’t go in either. The good thing for him is that he is maintaining the patience that ran out on him quickly last week in Singapore. He still trails DeChambeau by three shots, nothing that can’t be sorted with a great weekend on the greens.
– Of course, you can’t rule out the -10 group, which includes Talor Gooch, Carlos Ortiz, Joaco Niemann, players who thrive when it comes to making birdies as if there were no tomorrow. A bit more sternness is missing, considering that the vast majority won’t play anything else until the The Masters at Augusta.
– Another serious contender for victory is Dean Burmester (-11). Serious in the sense that he has a great chance, not that he is behaving seriously. Quite simply, he has gone over the top. He has been carried away by the excitement of playing at home and being surrounded by huge crowds to display an exaggeratedly extravagant demeanour, especially given that he has never been like this. At times he looks more like a fighter from pro wrestling than a golfer, with his continual gestures to the crowd. Burmester does LIV Golf no favours like this.
– As for the rest of the Spaniards, a bad day for Sergio García (-8), whose 70 has left him well behind. By contrast, Josele Ballester (-8), with a 65, and Luis Masaveu (-5), with a 67, have recovered some positions, though still far from the thick of the action for the victory
