Bryson DeChambeau (-10) has opened a small gap in the second round of the LIV Golf Singapore. A superb 65, the best of the week so far on the Serapong course at the Sentosa Golf Club, has given him a three-shot lead over a strong chasing group made up of Jon Rahm, Louis Oosthuizen, Lee Weswtood, Thomas Detry and Richard T. Lee. All on -7. To the most nostalgic and those with an excellent memory, the image of THE PLAYERS Championship 2021 will have come to mind, when Westwood, DeChambeau and Rahm went out on the final day in the top positions fighting for the win. Those were the days.
DeChambeau has played much better than on Thursday, firmer and more in position. Fundamental to scoring on a course that was a touch windier today. A touch more testing. Although the tee shot on the 15th still causes him grief, today he couldn’t avoid the water as he did yesterday by barely a couple of inches, yet his recovery play was splendid. However, if you had to find a difference with Rahm’s golf, for example, it has really been on the greens.
Jon’s magic on mid-range putts took the day off this Friday. It’s the only reason he’s not tied at the top, or even ahead, of the two-time US Open champion. Nothing to criticise in the Spaniard’s long game. Quite the opposite. From the tee he was as accurate or more so than on Thursday and his second shots, given the breeze, were more than notable. The only tee shot he missed was on the 7th, the second par-5 of the day. It went into the water on the right, although he managed to save par with a good third shot and a magnificent chip from a delicate position, with his feet in the bunker and the ball just outside at about knee height.
The only mid-range putt he holed was, precisely, on the 6th, just before he sent it into the water. He holed from about six metres. Before and after that he had several chances from between four and seven metres, but none dropped. The ones at holes 8, 14 and 16 were even clearer, and they slipped away too. A day off for the little magic that has accompanied him all season and that was decisive in his emphatic victory in Hong Kong last week.
DART 🎯
Rahmbo is flag hunting in the second round 🔥
He’s two back of Bryson with 9-to-play 📈#LIVGolfHongKong | @LegionXIIIgc pic.twitter.com/vye4GafQnM
— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) March 13, 2026
In reality they weren’t bad putts. You can’t call it a rotten day on the greens, far from it. It was a matter of a couple of inches here and there — right, left or short. Nothing that should affect the overwhelming confidence that the man from Barrika always radiates. If he rediscovers that inspiration at the weekend, he will certainly be in contention on Sunday for the win, and his long game so far remains impeccable. His card of 68 strokes reflects that.
By the way, on that 7th, a par-5 where he sent the ball into the water, although he saved par, he ended a run of twelve consecutive par-5s with a birdie or eagle. He didn’t take long to start a new one, because on the 18th, the third and final par-5 at Serapong, he made a simple birdie by hitting the green in two. It was his only birdie in the last twelve holes. As mentioned, the magic.
The one who did have the magic on his side this Friday was Josele Ballester (-3). He desperately needed it. A very good and hugely eventful round from the Castellón player. 66 strokes. And that’s despite starting with a double bogey at his third hole of the day, the delicate 15th. From there, a seven-under stretch featuring an eagle on 18 and two bogeys. In other words, in 16 holes he recorded only five pars. It was the day to be aggressive and the young Spaniard understood that. This result moves him up to 15th in the standings and gives him a chance to fight for the top spots at the weekend. He’s two shots off the top 10 and just four off second place.
David Puig (+1) also beat the course, although his 70 didn’t allow him to gain many places. That said, he hasn’t said his last word yet, at least as far as fighting for the top 10 is concerned. Luis Masaveu (+3) also managed to subtract with a 69, although he remains far from the leading positions and it was a bad day for Sergio García (+5). The Borriol native posted his worst card ever on this course (75 strokes)
