Overview of the Second Round at Chapultepec Golf Club
As the final day of the event at Chapultepec Golf Club approaches, the leaderboard remains unchanged. Cameron Smith holds second place, while Chilean Joaquín Niemann has climbed into third. The individual title race has revealed a strong contender for the second time: Bryson DeChambeau, captain of Crushers GC.
DeChambeau’s Performance and Strategy
DeChambeau shared his thoughts on the second round, stating, “I played some really good golf today. Had a couple of weird moments, but overall, I’m very proud of how I persevered. The fans were amazing. For Sunday, it’s basically the same game plan: be aggressive when I feel comfortable and relax when I can still make birdie. If I have my launch monitor lines set and feel like I can hit the ball as well as I know I can when playing my best, it’ll be a tough day.”
LIV Golf Mexico City Details
The Chapultepec Golf Club is hosting the sixth event of the season and the first since the Masters of Augusta. This is the LIV Golf’s first visit to Mexico City and the third in Mexico, following appearances in Mayakoba over the past two years.
Cameron Smith’s Pursuit
Australian Cameron Smith is closely following Bryson DeChambeau, aiming for his first LIV Golf victory since 2023. Smith commented, “Cam played really well. I’m glad I made the putt on 18. It’s great to see him up there fighting, and I hope he puts on a good show tomorrow. We had fun competing against each other, and it was enjoyable to see how we played on this elevated golf course. It’s amazing how far we can hit the ball.”
Joaquín Niemann’s Progress
Joaquín Niemann, currently in third place with a round of 64 (-7), is -10 overall after day two. His accurate shots on holes 12 and 13 allowed him to catch up with leader Bryson DeChambeau and surpass Spain’s Jon Rahm, his main rival for the season title. Niemann was the individual champion of the 2024 Mayakoba event and has gained Latin American fans, making him feel like a local.
Carlos Ortiz and Abraham Ancer’s Performance
Mexican Carlos Ortiz was the best-placed Mexican in both rounds, finishing T8 with a round of -6 under par. Abraham Ancer ended the day in 30th place with -1 under par. On Friday, Ancer was T36 with +1.
First Round Recap (Friday, April 25)
Bryson DeChambeau achieved an 8-under-par (63) round, placing him at the top of the individual category after the first round. DeChambeau, captain of Crushers GC, closed his round with a birdie on hole 1 from the tee, finishing with two putts over 35 feet. Before starting Round 2 (Saturday), DeChambeau led by one stroke over Jon Rahm (Legion XIII) and Cameron Smith (Ripper GC), who both shot 64.
Crushers GC and Rippers GC tied for the lead with 15-under par, six strokes ahead of Smash GC. DeChambeau averaged 367 yards from the tee, including two drives over 400 yards, describing it as a “fun” day of long shots. This 63 is DeChambeau’s best opening round in LIV Golf.
Powerful Shots in Round 1
The altitude of Mexico City allowed for recording 11 shots over 400 yards, with Brooks Koepka’s 435-yard shot on hole 11 being the longest. DeChambeau recorded two shots over 400 yards, including a 412-yard shot on hole 6.
Prize Money Information
- Individual Winner: $4 million for the victory.
- Second Place: $2.25 million
- Third Place: $1.5 million
- Fourth Place: $1 million
- Fifth Place: $800,000
Note: The amounts decrease until 54th place, which receives $50,000.
- Team Winner: $3 million
- Second Place: $1.5 million
- Third Place: $500,000
Key Questions and Answers
- When you’re playing great rounds like yesterday and today, how much do you focus on other players’ results?
I wouldn’t say I pay much attention to the guys in my group. I’m somewhat of an observer of the leaderboard. I like to know what’s happening on the golf course and what I need to do to stay at the top. On the course, I focus a lot on myself, but I also try to figure out what I need to do to stay among the best.
