DeChambeau’s Baffling Blunder and Leishman’s Charge at LIV Adelaide
The opening day of the LIV Golf tournament in Adelaide delivered a mix of the spectacular and the surprisingly mundane, leaving golf fans both on the edge of their seats and scratching their heads. American powerhouse Bryson DeChambeau, a two-time US Open champion, provided one of the day’s most talked-about moments with an uncharacteristic mishit on the 10th hole, while local hero Marc Leishman staked a strong claim for a maiden home LIV victory.
DeChambeau’s ‘Mad Scientist’ Moment
DeChambeau, known for his meticulous approach and prodigious drives, left the gallery at The Grange golf course in disbelief when he inexplicably “topped” his tee shot on the par-four 10th. The ball barely travelled 60 yards up the fairway, a stark contrast to the colossal drives usually associated with the man dubbed the ‘mad scientist’ of golf.
Overheard muttering, “Did I hit the ground on that?” DeChambeau appeared momentarily perplexed. It seemed he had set his tee height a touch too low, resulting in his clubhead striking the ground before making contact with the ball. Despite this rare hiccup, the Ryder Cup star quickly recovered his composure. Pulling out a fairway wood, he unleashed a magnificent approach shot that landed on the green, ultimately leading to a birdie on the par-five hole.
DeChambeau later revealed that such an occurrence had been rare in his recent career, estimating it had been nearly five years since his last topped tee shot. “The last time I did that was 2021 Players Championship off the 4th tee box and it cost me THE PLAYERS,” he commented. He elaborated that while he had made solid contact, he had simply “hit too far down on the ball,” describing the strike itself as “perfect.”
Leishman Leads the Pack of Pursuers
While DeChambeau’s on-course antics drew attention, it was Australian Marc Leishman who emerged as a leading contender for the coveted home-soil triumph. Leishman fired a flawless six-under-par 66, featuring no bogeys, to share the first-round lead with DeChambeau.
The Victorian golfer admitted he was unfazed by the calibre of major champions hot on his heels. Among those lurking menacingly are fellow major winners Dustin Johnson, who secured two eagles on his way to a five-under 67, and Jon Rahm, who posted a four-under 68.
“The good thing about LIV is you’re playing against those guys every week,” Leishman stated. “So whether you’re ahead of them or you’re chasing them, you know you have to play really good golf to win one of these (tournaments). That’s certainly going to be the case this week for whoever goes out and wins it or comes from behind or whatever that is – hopefully it’s me.”
Australian Hopes High for a Home Champion
The prospect of an Australian individual winner at LIV Adelaide is a significant talking point. Leishman, alongside fellow Australians Cam Smith and the rapidly emerging Elvis Smylie, is carrying the hopes of the home crowd. Smylie, fresh off a victory in his LIV debut in Saudi Arabia, carded a two-under 70, highlighted by three birdies.
Cam Smith, despite an early stumble with bogeys on his opening three holes, rallied to finish the day at even par. Lucas Herbert, another Ripper GC teammate, finished one-under after a mixed round of birdies and bogeys.
Leishman, now in contention for his second LIV victory after winning in Miami last year, expressed the desire to see an Australian hoist the individual trophy on home soil. “An Australian winning here would be massive… I hope we find out this week,” he said. “I have seen Aussies win Australian Opens and PGAs, and I won a Victorian PGA last year. I’ve never seen an Australian win an individual title in Australia at a LIV event, which I think would be pretty special.” He fondly recalled his team’s victory with Ripper GC in Adelaide in 2024, describing it as feeling “like winning a major.”
Leishman’s impressive round saw him rack up four birdies in a seven-hole stretch on the Sandbelt course. He added two more crucial birdies on the 16th and 17th holes to reach his impressive six-under total. This score was just one shot shy of his personal best at The Grange, having recorded two seven-under rounds in previous Adelaide tournaments.
Meanwhile, local Adelaide golfer Wade Ormsby, a reserve who stepped in for the absent Phil Mickelson, finished one-over par.
Other Contenders in the Mix
Beyond the leading pair and the Australian contingent, other notable players are well-positioned. Anthony Kim sits in outright second place at five-under, a single shot ahead of Abraham Ancer and Northern Ireland’s Graham McDowell, both of whom posted rounds of 68. The stage is set for a thrilling weekend of golf as the LIV Adelaide tournament continues.
