LIV Adelaide, round one
-6 DeChambeau (US), Leishman (Aus); -5 Johnson (US), Kim (US); -4 Ancer (Mex), McDowell (NI), Niemann (Chi), Rahm (Spa)
Selected others -3 Hatton (Eng); -2 Casey (Eng); -1 Garcia (Spa), Poulter (Eng); +2 McKibbin (NI)
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Bryson DeChambeau recovered from topping a drive to share the lead with home hope Marc Leishman after the first round of LIV Adelaide.
The two-time US Open champion mixed seven birdies and a bogey in his opening 66.
DeChambeau’s embarrassing thinned drive on the par-five 10th at Grange Golf Club landed on the path in front of the tee box and bounded up the fairway.
From there, the 32-year-old still managed to find the green in two and secured his birdie before gaining another four shots on the closing nine.
“Oh yeah, it was a great line drive into the tee box and bounced it off the cart path,” laughed DeChambeau.
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“I had a nice scuff mark. Last time I did that was 2021 Players Championship off the fourth tee box and it cost me the title.
“But that shot was more of a thin shot. I just hit too far down on the ball. I actually struck it nicely. It was a perfect strike right into the tee box.
“It was awesome. Got to make sure I don’t hit it with too negative an attack angle next time.”
Australia’s Leishman, whose sole LIV win came in Miami last year, opened his tournament with six birdies to sit alongside DeChambeau.
Former world number one Dustin Johnson and Anthony Kim are a shot behind the leaders after both registering a first-round 67.
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Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell carded a first-round 68 and is just two shots off the pace.
The former US Open champion had a challenging start to the day with two bogeys in the opening three holes, but bounced back with three birdies in the space of five holes.
The 46-year-old added another three birdies on the back nine as he chases his first win on the LIV circuit.
McDowell sits alongside Mexico’s Abraham Ancer, Chile’s Joaquin Niemann and Spain’s two-time major winner Jon Rahm.
Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin carded a disappointing first round of two-over-par 74 and is 46th.
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