[Herald Economy Sports Desk=Reporter Lee Gang-rae] Bryson DeChambeau, the defending champion, shared the first-day lead at LIV Golf Korea, the $30 million event in Busan.
DeChambeau used pinpoint iron play to shoot 5-under 65 on the opening day, May 28, at Asiad Country Club in Gijang, Busan (par-70, 7,024 yards). He finished tied with Charles Howell III (U.S.) and Scott Vincent (Zimbabwe), leaving him well positioned to chase a second straight title.
Intent on defending his crown, DeChambeau produced a flawless front nine with five birdies and no bogeys. Most of those birdie attempts were from 3 to 6.5 feet (1–2 meters), and he chipped in for birdie at the par-4 8th. He wobbled on the back nine with bogeys at 13 and 15 but regained a stroke with a birdie at the par-3 16th.
He hit driver on 12 holes but found the fairway on only five; the short rough, however, kept his approaches viable. DeChambeau hit 75% of greens in regulation and needed just 23 putts, an average of 1.44 per hole.
Joaquín Niemann (Chile) made six birdies against two bogeys to post a 4-under 66 and is tied for fourth with Ian Poulter (England) and Thomas Pieters (Belgium).
Sergio García (Spain) shot 3-under 67 and started tied for seventh with Cameron Smith (Australia), Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) and Rory Canter (England).
Making his LIV Golf debut, Moon Do-yeop carded a 2-under 68 and sits tied for 11th with Song Young-han; both players had four birdies and two bogeys.
Top contender Jon Rahm (Spain) traded three birdies and three bogeys for an even-par 72, leaving him in a tie for 27th with Byeong Hun An, Anthony Kim (U.S.), Tae-hoon Lee (Canada) and Danny Lee (New Zealand). Kim Min-kyu posted a 1-over 71 and is tied for 38th.
In the team competition, Korean Golf Club opened at 3-under and is tied for fifth. They trail the leaders, Crushers GC—led by DeChambeau—by seven shots; Crushers are 10-under. OK GC, led by Tyler Gooch (U.S.), is second at 7-under.
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