Staff WriterDean Burmester is two strokes clear with one round to go at LIV Golf Chicago 2025, but his Sunday stroll at Bolingbrook Golf Club will be anything but a picnic.
Sharing the final pairing will be Spain’s Jon Rahm — two-time major winner, reigning LIV Golf Individual Champion, and current “thorn in the side” of Joaquin Niemann’s title hopes — along with 21-year-old sensation Josele Ballester, who only turned pro in June.
“Going to have to brush up on my Spanish,” grinned Burmester after his sparkling 6-under 65 took him to nine under through 36 holes.
Burmester’s Revival
For Burmester, this run is redemption in full flight. Just a month ago, he was marooned in 51st at LIV Golf Andalucía — his career low point. A lighter frame and renewed fitness have sharpened his game, and his bogey-free back nine on Saturday, featuring an eagle and three birdies, was proof.
“I feel better about how I look and how I feel, the whole vibe around how I walk around the golf course,” he said.
The Stinger GC captain also has his eye on the team prize. His South African squad is tied at 10 under with the Fireballs and Crushers GC, setting up a three-way brawl for Sunday.
The Stingers haven’t lifted a team trophy since LIV Golf Tulsa in 2023 — and they’ve dusted off an old superstition by bunking together in one house this week.
“It could be a good omen for us,” Burmester smiled.
Rahm’s Title Chase Heats Up
Rahm, the Legion XIII captain, is chasing his first individual win of the season and has his sights set on overtaking Niemann in the overall standings ahead of next week’s finale in Indianapolis. With Niemann languishing in 39th, the door is ajar.
“No matter if I win, I’m going to have a real possibility of catching him and possibly passing him next week,” Rahm said after his 4-under 67.
The Spaniard recovered from early bogeys with a blistering back nine. “Score-wise, it’s almost a tale of two nines, but feeling-wise felt great all day.”
Ballester’s Big Chance
Ballester, the newest gem in Fireballs GC’s crown, is just five events into his LIV career after lifting the 2024 U.S. Amateur. A tie for seventh in the UK and a red-hot 66 on Saturday have him dreaming big.
“These are the moments that I practice for so much in my career, and being able to lift my first one tomorrow, it would be pretty fun,” he said.
The young Spaniard leads the field in strokes gained off the tee and is striking it with a swagger that makes the Lock Zone look within reach. His only blemish — a self-described “dumb bogey” on the last after a 410-yard drive — showed both his fire and his maturity in recognising where he needs more discipline.
Leaderboard at a Glance – Individual and Team Scores after Round 2
Weather, Wild Cards, and a 443-Yard Missile
Burmester has likened Bolingbrook’s firm, bouncy challenge to Miami’s Doral, where he claimed his lone LIV win in sweltering heat. “Very similar to Miami, so I suppose that brings back some good memories,” he said.
Elsewhere, wild cards Chieh-Po Lee and Anthony Kim lit up Saturday. Lee carded a 67 to move inside the safety zone, while Kim, after Friday’s nightmare 82, roared back with a 68 — a staggering 14-shot swing.
And for sheer brute force, Caleb Surratt’s 443.6-yard drive at the par-5 14th set a new season record, narrowly outgunning Niemann’s 440.5-yard missile.
Sunday’s Script
Burmester will try to hold off a major champion with a title race in his sights and a fearless newcomer playing the biggest round of his life.
At LIV Golf Chicago 2025, the only guarantee is that the final act will be loud, unpredictable, and very possibly Spanish.
