Incheon: Two-time major champion Bryson DeChambeau has secured a share of the lead after the opening round of the first-ever LIV Golf tournament held in South Korea. DeChambeau, who clinched the U.S. Open titles in 2020 and 2024, delivered a flawless round of seven-under 65 at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in Incheon, located approximately 30 kilometers west of Seoul. He shares the lead with Talor Gooch, who recorded eight birdies and a single bogey to also finish with a score of 65 on a day characterized by sunny, cool, and breezy conditions by the Yellow Sea.
According to Yonhap News Agency, DeChambeau, who recently finished fifth in Mexico, expressed satisfaction with his putting performance despite encountering some challenges early in the round. "I was proud of the way I putted and handled myself after missing two easy putts on the first two holes," DeChambeau remarked. He praised the Jack Nicklaus-designed course, noting the need for precise second shots and effective putting. "For me, it was more about getting comfortable with the greens, comfortable with how the ball flew, how far it flew and then the curvature, like how much the ball is curving in the air," he added.
Gooch, who triumphed in three LIV Golf tournaments in 2023, is aiming for his first top-10 finish of 2025. Reflecting on his performance, he stated, "Hopefully, this round kind of kick-starts a good rest of the season and we can kind of channel some of that 2023 season again the rest of the year." He emphasized the importance of his iron shots, which allowed for several short birdie opportunities, enhancing his scorecard.
The American leaders are one shot ahead of South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen and England's Richard Bland. Joaquin Niemann of Chile, a winner of three out of six LIV tournaments this season, is in a five-way tie for fifth place at four-under.
South Korean golfer Kim Min-kyu, participating as a temporary injury replacement for Ben Campbell of the RangeGoats Golf Club, shot a 69 with five birdies and two bogeys. Kim, representing the DP World Tour, expressed gratitude for his initial team competition experience, helping place the RangeGoats team in third position. The other South Korean player, Jang Yu-bin of the Iron Heads GC, faced challenges with a score of 76, including a difficult 10 on the par-4 11th hole.
The LIV Golf series, funded by Saudi Arabia, is making its debut in South Korea with this event. The format includes 54-hole tournaments without cuts, with individual and team standings being tracked. The individual winner will receive a prize of $4 million, while the top team will earn $3 million. All 54 players commenced play simultaneously on different holes under the shotgun format. Teams accumulate points based on their top-eight finishes, with the Iron Heads currently positioned last among the 13 teams through last week's tournament in Mexico.