By Levy Masiteng
Bryson DeChambeau and Charles Howell III grabbed the early lead at LIV Golf South Africa on Thursday after both opened with eight-under-par 63s at The Club at Steyn City, as the breakaway circuit began its first tournament on African soil.
The Crushers GC teammates finished one shot clear of South Africa’s Branden Grace and Spain’s Sergio Garcia, who both signed for seven-under 64s, while Jon Rahm stayed within reach after a 65 in the opening round of the four-day event.
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DeChambeau mixed nine birdies with a lone bogey in another strong showing after his win in Singapore last week, while Howell produced a bogey-free round to share top spot.
South African interest remained high throughout the day, with Southern Guards GC — made up of Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Dean Burmester and Grace — taking the lead in the team competition on 18-under-par. Smash GC sat one stroke back, with Crushers GC two behind.
The Johannesburg stop, running from 19 to 22 March, is LIV Golf’s first visit to Africa and is being played over four rounds under the league’s 2026 format.
DeChambeau said the course had held up well despite rain before the start of play.
“The golf course is soft right now, so it’s very gettable… I was quite impressed with all the rain that they got, how good it played,” he said.
He also welcomed Howell’s position alongside him at the top of the leaderboard.
“It’s great to see Chucky up on the top of the leaderboard… hopefully it resonates throughout the rest of the team.”
Howell said the South African leg carried weight beyond the tournament itself.
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“It’s a big week for LIV Golf on a global scale… I’m quite sure the next three days will be pretty crazy and chaotic out there.”
Burmester said the experience was unlike anything he had felt before on a golf course.
“Probably the greatest day I’ve had on the golf course… I’ve never felt this kind of emotion and this electricity,” he said.
