Staff WriterLIV Golf Mexico lifted off—quite literally—when Bryson DeChambeau hammered his final drive so high and far it looked in danger of needing a passport stamp.
The Crushers GC captain capped an 8-under-par 63 with that 372.9-yard blast into the thin mountain air, pumping both fists as if he’d just arm-wrestled a mariachi band into submission.
He carries a one-shot edge over fellow skippers Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith after a rollicking first round played at 7,900 feet above sea level.
DeChambeau’s long-ball fiesta
“It was fun hitting the ball far,” DeChambeau said. “Fun to finish off with a nice bang on the last hole.”
Fun, indeed. The 2020 U.S. Open champ averaged 367 yards on a day when 11 tee shots sailed beyond 400.
Thanks to the altitude—ballooning distance and trimming curvature—DeChambeau’s opening salvo is the lowest first-round score of his LIV career and positions him for a first victory since 2023.
Yet the big man was not entirely satisfied. “There was a lot of moments where I felt like I was going to get it to 9-, 10-under and there were moments where I’m like, man, I could be 3-under or 2-under easily if I don’t get my act in shape,” he conceded. “It’s a teeter-totter golf course.”
Rahm & Smith keeping the pressure on
Legion XIII’s Jon Rahm set the early pace with tres straight birdies. “What better way to start it than with three birdies in a row,” he said. “That just set the tone.
Felt really comfortable on the greens all day. Couldn’t really have asked for a much better score.”
The 2024 LIV Golf Individual Champion rolled in a 39-footer at the 13th and matched Smith’s blistering 64.
Smith, whose Rippers GC triumphed last time out in Miami, was equally chipper: “I’ve put myself in a really good spot after round one.
Hopefully, I can go out there over the weekend and give it my all and hopefully walk away with a trophy.”
Their teams mirror the individual tussle: Crushers and Rippers share the clubhouse lead at 15-under, six clear of Smash GC.
Fans treated to altitude-aided fireworks
“It’s always been exciting around here,” RangeGoats GC captain Bubba Watson observed after a 66 that leaves him solo fourth.
“They love their sports. I’m glad they come out to watch us play golf and watch some of these guys hit it pretty far.”
Hit it far they did. Brooks Koepka recorded the day’s longest missile—435 yards—while Joaquín Niemann led the field in driving distance at a staggering 378.9-yard average.
Monster drives ≥ 400 yards
| Player | Hole | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Brooks Koepka | 11 | 435 yds |
| Tom McKibbin | 15 | 433 yds |
| Dean Burmester | 11 | 422 yds |
| Thomas Pieters | 11 | 418 yds |
| Bryson DeChambeau | 6 | 412 yds |
| Joaquín Niemann | 12 | 407 yds |
| David Puig | 11 | 407 yds |
| Bryson DeChambeau | 11 | 406 yds |
| Sebastián Muñoz | 12 | 404 yds |
| Tom McKibbin | 3 | 401 yds |
| Peter Uihlein | 3 | 400 yds |
Local heroes and colourful sidebars
- Carlos Ortiz battled back from two opening bogeys to sign for a 68 in front of an adoring home crowd. “A slow start, definitely,” said the Guadalajara native, “… I feel like I did a good job because I actually did not put myself in good positions after those two bogeys, and I kept it somehow, and then I started playing some good golf and finished strong. I’m really happy the way I played today.”
- Abraham Ancer carded a 72, while honorary Mexican Rahm soaked up extra applause: “Even though playing with Carlos, I’m not quite on the same level, obviously, but the crowd was heavily for me, as well.”
Altitude may add yards, but it robs curve—bad news for shot-shaper Watson. “It’s a big issue for me,” he admitted. “It’s an issue for me for sure because of my sight lines. So I want to aim it right, so I’ve had to aim it a little bit more to the center of the fairway. … This is my fifth time here, so I kind of know what to expect around here.”
Stat pack
- Driving accuracy: Graeme McDowell, 85.71 %
- Greens hit: Marc Leishman, 16/18
- Scrambling perfection: Matthew Wolff, Bryson DeChambeau, Marc Leishman
- Strokes Gained Putting: Tyrrell Hatton +3.22
Asked whether his final-hole wallop was the hardest swing of his life, DeChambeau grinned: “Maybe. What was the ball speed?”—he reckons 196-197 mph. “I was pumped,” he said.
What’s next at LIV Golf Mexico
Having finished on the first hole, the leaders will launch Round 2 from the same tee Saturday. DeChambeau predicts the fiesta is far from over: “It’s going to get firm and fast out here. Be a lot of fun this weekend.”
If Friday’s altitude-fueled fireworks are any guide, pack sunscreen, earplugs, and maybe a safety helmet—because at LIV Golf Mexico the ball is travelling farther than most people’s Uber rides.
