LIV Golf South Africa: DeChambeau Leads After Round 2, Grace Chasing

Home favorite Southern Guards GC enters the weekend at LIV Golf South Africa in contention for both the team and individual titles but will need to outlast a stacked leaderboard if the all-South African lineup hopes to leave Steyn City with either one of the highly coveted trophies. 

As a team, the Southern Guards are in solo second, two shots behind Torque GC. Individually, Branden Grace is tied for second, two shots behind Crushers GC Captain Bryson DeChambeau, the 36-hole leader seeking his second consecutive LIV Golf individual title. Grace’s teammate Dean Burmester is tied for fourth, another shot back. 

"This is exactly where I want to be going into the weekend," Grace said. "Coming in, I know tomorrow is going to be even more electrifying than today – and we’re ready." 

DeChambeau began the day in a tie for the lead with teammate Charles Howell III but quickly took control with a spectacular eagle at the par-4 first. He was 5 under through his first five holes, looking as if he may run away with the tournament. 

But last week’s Singapore winner cooled off, playing his next 10 holes at even par before finishing with a tap-in birdie on the par-5 18th. DeChambeau’s 6-under 65 stretched his score to 14-under for the week, with Grace and Fireballs GC’s David Puig his closest pursuers at 12 under.

Through birdies and bogeys, DeChambeau is soaking in the experience in LIV Golf’s first trip to the African continent, as well as his own personal initial visit to South Africa. 

"Making birdies and playing great golf matters, and I still get frustrated and disappointed when things don't go my way," he said. "But I look back on it ultimately when I give a fist bump or a high five, that weighs a lot more on me, and I think it's