Bryson DeChambeau is seeking his first professional victory since his U.S. Open triumph last June – but the American will need to stop Richard Bland in South Korea to do so
Bryson DeChambeau is chasing a win in South Korea(Image: Getty Images)
Richard Bland is determined to “turn over” Bryson DeChambeau and win LIV Golf’s event in South Korea on Sunday.
The final round at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea promises to be a historic one, with two-time U.S. Open champion DeChambeau boasting a four-shot lead over U.S. Senior Open champion Bland in second. That means the two holders of the United States Golf Association’s (USGA) men’s majors will face off against each other in Asia.
While speaking to reporters after Saturday’s round, Bland was asked to send a message to LIV fans looking forward to Sunday’s showdown against DeChambeau. He said: “Thanks for all your support, guys. I’m going to do my best tomorrow. Hopefully the older Senior U.S. Open champion might turn over the young U.S. Open champion.”
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After his cheeky warning to DeChambeau, Bland, 52, was full of praise for his opponent. He added: “It’s going to be tough, I know that. Bryson is one of the best players in the world, so he ain’t going to back down. Hopefully I can give him a run for his money.”
DeChambeau will be keen to get over the line in South Korea and end his drought. The 31-year-old hasn’t won a tournament since clinching the U.S. Open at Pinehurst and recently faded during the final round of the Masters and LIV’s event in Mexico City.
Speaking after his round on Saturday, DeChambeau revealed his game plan to ensure he finally gets that elusive win on Sunday. “It’s just to play like a kid,” he said when asked what it’ll take him to be victorious.
Richard Bland is also in the hunt at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea(Image: Getty Images)
“Have a lot of fun, be smart, execute like you know how to, and just solidify the motion, make sure I’m moving through it right, and keep playing the golf that I know how to play.”
DeChambeau (13-under-par) and Bland (nine-under-par) aren’t the only LIV stars in the hunt for a win in South Korea.
Charles Howell III, Jason Kokrak, Dean Burmester, and Talor Gooch all find themselves on eight-under-par, while Carlos Ortiz and Louis Oosthuizen are a shot further back.
There are five players on six-under-par: Lucas Herbert, Thomas Pieters, Bubba Watson, Jinichiro Kozuma, and Jon Rahm. David Puig, Tyrrell Hatton, Joaquin Niemann, and Cam Smith are all well poised to make a Sunday charge on five-under-par.
Bland, who is also the reigning Senior PGA champion, knows full well what DeChambeau is capable of producing on Sunday. “I heard he hit 9-iron into the last, and that doesn’t make me feel good,” Bland laughed when asked about his rival’s length off the tee.
“It’s tailor-made for him around here. I kind of feel like I’m a pretty decent driver. I know where it’s going to go. You feel like there’s four or five holes around here you couldn’t miss a fairway if you tried.
“So for him, he’s one of those, he can find that extra 10mph club head speed. That’s something that I can’t do. I can’t just find 10 miles an hour. There are holes where he can make it look very, very easy.”
