Andy DevaneyLIV Golf Korea has a familiar look at the top of the leaderboard, with Bryson DeChambeau and Charles Howell III once again making themselves awkward guests in Korea — this time joined by HyFlyers GC’s Scott Vincent after a brisk opening round at Asiad Country Club in Busan.
A year ago, DeChambeau and Howell turned LIV Golf’s first visit to Korea into a Crushers GC family argument at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon, with DeChambeau finishing with two late birdies to take the individual title. Different course, different city, same scent of mischief.
On Thursday, the pair signed for matching 5-under 65s, with Vincent joining them at the summit after producing the only bogey-free round of the day. Golf being golf, of course, it refused to stay tidy for long. Three players sit just one shot behind: Torque GC Captain Joaquin Niemann, Majesticks GC Co-Captain Ian Poulter and 4Aces GC’s Thomas Pieters.
Behind them, at 3 under, comes a rather dangerous-looking group featuring Cameron Smith, Sergio Garcia, Charl Schwartzel and Laurie Canter. That is not so much a chasing pack as a room full of men who know exactly where the exits are.
DeChambeau Starts Fast, Then Lets The Field Breathe
DeChambeau looked ready to make Thursday his own private science experiment when he birdied six of his first 10 holes. For a while, the solo lead belonged to him, and the rest were merely trying not to appear decorative.
Then came bogeys at the 13th and 15th holes, which dragged him back into company. Not disaster. More of a reminder that even when Bryson is moving like a runaway golf simulator, the game still occasionally hides a rake in the long grass.
Still, a 65 around Asiad Country Club is hardly something to apologise for. Nor was the reception.
“Yeah, the support was fantastic out there. We had a great crowd for Thursday. Really impressed, and can’t wait to see what Korea brings out this weekend.” — DeChambeau, Crushers GC
Howell Finds His Spark From 108 Yards
Howell’s round had its own little firework display, courtesy of an eagle 2 from 108 yards at the par-4 second. There are worse ways to announce you have arrived than holing a wedge early enough in the day to make everyone else reconsider their breakfast choices.
The Crushers man clearly enjoyed the venue, too.
“…this golf course does suit my eye well. It’s a really neat golf course. The two nines are quite a bit different from each other, and it’s in wonderful shape.” — Howell III, Crushers GC
That distinction between the two nines may become important as the week unfolds. On a course where rhythm, angles and patience appear to matter, the player who solves both halves rather than merely survives them may end up with the trophy and a very satisfied travel itinerary.
Vincent Keeps It Clean As The Chasers Gather
Scott Vincent’s 65 came without a single dropped shot, which on day one of a LIV Golf event is the sort of clean card that tends to look even better once everyone else has finished explaining their mistakes.
He leads alongside two Crushers, but the first-round leaderboard has depth rather than decoration. Niemann, Poulter and Pieters are all at 4 under, each close enough to make Friday uncomfortable for the leaders. Poulter in particular remains one of golf’s great emotional weather systems: calm one minute, thunderclap the next.
At 3 under, Smith and Garcia give the board still more weight. Schwartzel and Canter are there too, and neither tends to hang around leaderboards purely for the ambience.
Korean Golf Club Gives The Home Crowd A Proper Reason To Roar
One of the more encouraging stories of the opening day came from Korean Golf Club, who produced one of their better performances of the season. Younghan Song and newcomer Doyeob Mun both shot 68 to sit among the group tied for 11th, while the team finished the day tied for fifth at 3 under.
For a home side, that matters. Not in a syrupy, flag-waving sort of way, but because galleries respond differently when there is genuine local momentum to follow.
Song had already sensed what Busan could bring.
“I remember how huge the oceans of galleries were during the Adelaide tournament. Considering we’re in Busan where the people are known for being very passionate, not only am I interested in playing a good game with my team members at KGC, I’m looking forward to seeing all those passionate Busan people come out to cheer us on.” — Song, Korean Golf Club
Mun, meanwhile, looked perfectly at home in a setting that could easily have swallowed a newcomer whole.
“I think the fact that I played my first tournament of LIV Golf here in my home ground was really, truly an honor. Looking at the fans, I really felt less nervous, more comfortable. I really want to thank them for coming out today.” — Mun, Korean Golf Club
That is the sort of quote that tells you more than a stat sheet. Comfort matters. Belonging matters. And when a home player starts feeling taller because the crowd has decided to lend him a spine, tournaments can develop a very different pulse.
Crushers GC Lead The Team Race Again
Crushers GC won the team title last year in Korea and, irritatingly for everyone else, have started as though they rather liked the arrangement.
They lead the team standings at 10 under, built largely on the twin 65s from DeChambeau and Howell, with Anirban Lahiri adding a useful 2-under 68. Reserve Travis Smyth, in for the injured Paul Casey, shot 2-over 72.
Given the circumstances, Crushers GC will take that without much complaint. Leading the team leaderboard while missing a regular member is not a bad opening argument.
The recently rebranded OKGC sit second at 7 under, with HyFlyers GC and Fireballs GC tied for third at 5 under. Korean Golf Club, Legion XIII and Majesticks Golf Club are grouped at 3 under.
LIV Golf Korea Leaderboard Snapshot
At the top of the individual leaderboard, Charles Howell III, Bryson DeChambeau and Scott Vincent share first place at 5 under after rounds of 65.
Ian Poulter, Joaquin Niemann and Thomas Pieters are one shot back at 4 under after opening 66s.
Cameron Smith, Sergio Garcia, Charl Schwartzel and Laurie Canter sit at 3 under, close enough to make Friday feel less like a second round and more like a traffic jam with expensive clubs.
In the team race, Crushers GC lead at 10 under, followed by OKGC at 7 under. HyFlyers GC and Fireballs GC are tied third at 5 under, while Korean Golf Club, Legion XIII and Majesticks Golf Club are tied fifth at 3 under.
The Numbers That Carried Weight
Howell’s precision showed in the numbers, hitting 85.71% of fairways, finding 12 of 14. Harold Varner III led the greens in regulation category at 88.89%, hitting 16 of 18 for OKGC.
Jason Kokrak produced the day’s biggest average off the tee at 322.2 yards, while Doyeob Mun gave the Korean galleries something extra to enjoy with the longest drive of the round at 363.7 yards.
Numbers do not tell the whole story, but they do tend to leave fingerprints. Howell drove it well. Vincent stayed spotless. Mun announced himself with speed and nerve. DeChambeau threatened to run off before the course politely grabbed his ankle.
Friday Now Has Teeth
The second round begins on Friday 29 May at 1:05pm local time in Korea, and the shape of the tournament is already appealingly untidy.
Crushers GC are out front. DeChambeau and Howell are back in the same Korean conversation. Vincent is refusing to blink. The home team has something to chase. And Busan, judging by Thursday’s crowd, is not planning to sit there politely like wallpaper.
LIV Golf Korea has its opening act. Now comes the part where the leaderboard starts arguing back.
