LAS VEGAS: In a city that celebrates marquee performers on the glitziest stages, three of golf’s biggest stars will battle in the leaders group during Saturday’s final round of LIV Golf Las Vegas.
Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson are at the top of the individual leaderboard at 11 under after shooting 8-under 62s in Friday’s second round at Las Vegas Country Club.
Jon Rahm, in a three-way tie for third at 9 under after shooting 63, will join them in the threesome. Those three major winners had the three lowest scores in the second round.
“It’s what everybody wants to see,” said Rahm, playing in his second LIV Golf tournament after joining in the offseason. “It’s always a little bit better for a player when you win and you know you actually had to compete against the best in the world at their best. There’s no better feeling. As much as we enjoy it, the spectators will enjoy it more.”
“It’s a lot of fun anytime you get to play with the best players in the world and go head-to-head against each other,” DeChambeau said. “It’s more of a sprint to the finish now, and with a lot of birdie holes out there, it’s going to be exciting. A lot of fireworks.”
There were plenty of fireworks in Friday’s second round, especially from DeChambeau, who was 8 under through his first 13 holes and entertaining thoughts of another 58 (or possibly lower). Last year, the Crushers GC captain posted a final-round 58 to win in Greenbrier.
But after reeling off four consecutive birdies, DeChambeau could not sustain the momentum, finishing his round with five pars, including at the par-5 first when he found the fairway bunker and had to lay up.
“It was the weirdest 62 I’ve ever had,” said DeChambeau, who missed just one green Friday. “… Felt like I would shoot sub-60 all day and it was going that way after 16, and then I just got uncomfortable for some reason with the golf swing.
“One of the most sub-optimal 62s I’ve ever had — but I’ll take a 62 any day of the week.”
Meanwhile, Johnson was just 2 under through his first eight holes before heating up on his final 10 holes with six birdies.
“Obviously it was a good day,” said Johnson, whose 4Aces GC shares the team lead with RangeGoats GC at 26 under. “Just really solid. Drove it really well. Hit a lot of nice iron shots. Gave myself a lot of looks at birdie.”
Rahm, the Legion XIII captain, is tied with Peter Uihlein (65 on Friday) and Matthew Wolff (66). Rahm’s 63 is the lowest of his five rounds as a LIV Golf member.
“It was a very good day, very organized day I would say,” he said.
While the three major winners will be in the final group, Uihlein and Wolff can fly under the radar in the early group off the first tee. The two friends joined Bubba Watson’s RangeGoats in offseason trades and could help to push each other Saturday.
“Obviously with Bryson, DJ and Rahm there, to be able to chase those guys down and get your first win would be pretty awesome,” Uihlein said.
