Golf

Aussie in the chase as South Africa gets Bryson-fever

Mar 21, 2026

Bryson DeChambeau has roared in sight of a second triumph in a week at LIV Golf's hugely successful inaugural South African event, with Cam Smith still battling hard among the barnstorming American's pursuers.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

DeChambeau, joint-leader overnight after a first-round 63, immediately got the big galleries into a frenzy again on Friday by chipping in for an eagle at the first hole after a monster 355-yard drive.

It was just the launch pad he needed to fire a six-under 65 and open up a two-shot gap over the field at Johannesburg's Steyn City course.

Spaniard David Puig's 64 and South African home favourite ‌Branden Grace's 66 put them two behind, while leading Australian Smith was still in touch at halfway, five shots in arrears after his four-under 67 left him at nine under for the tournament, tied for 12th.

Smith had endured a fairly quiet day until he turned on the style over the last seven holes, holing four birdie putts.

Another big name on the hunt to stop DeChambeau following up his LIV Singapore triumph last week with another victory was Jon Rahm, whose 66 left him tied for fourth on 11 under alongside South African Dean Burmester (64), Abraham Ancer (65) and Charles Howell III (68).

Smith, captain of the all-Australian Ripper GC team, did better than his colleagues, with Elvis Smylie, who's tied for 27th at halfway on six under, Lucas Herbert, on four under, and Marc Leishman, on three under, all shooting 69s.

They're seventh in the team standings on a combined 22 under, while the home favourites, Southern Guards, have been knocked off top spot by Joaquin Niemann's Torque GC, who lead the South Africans by two shots on 36 under.

But while the crowds were whooping for the home heroes, they seemed equally enchanted by the sight of DeChambeau in full cry -- and the double US Open champ responded like the showman he is.

"The ultimate goal is to inspire," he explained.

"Being able to hit a tee shot and a kid go, 'oh, my gosh', it's so cool, and then being able to sign an autograph and give a high-five as I walk up to another tee box, that's what makes me feel good in playing golf."

He finished up by sinking a birdie on the par-five 18th, his seventh of the round to go with his opening eagle and one double-bogey on the par-four 12th.