An observation from day one:
SIX PAR-3s FOR BRYSON? AND NO PAR-5s...
The superbly manicured Steyn City layout has, for this LIV showpiece, three par-3s on the par-34 first nine, and one on the par-37 inward loop (both nines reconfigured specifically for this event so the hole numbers do not correlate with how the members play the course).
That makes four par-3s in all, right? Not if you are Bryson DeChambeau though! There are effectively six “short holes” for this king of all smashers of the golf ball. The American’s first shot of the day was at the 393-yard par-4 opening hole. He pulled out his driver and almost casually drove the green. Two putts. Birdie. No problem.
Then at the 364-yard par-4 fifth hole, with water fronting the green (it’s a scary shot), big-hitting Bryson again pulled the big stick out the bag and airmailed the putting surface. From a lie in the rough 10 yards or so over the back (the tee-shot must have travelled a good 400 yards) he expertly got up and down for birdie. Dammit, those two par-4s are like par-3s for him. Add in the conventional four shorts and we get to six par-3s for him!
Bryson cutting corners to the fairway 💪
— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) March 19, 2026
He's currently 6-under and 2 back of teammate Charles Howell III 📈#LIVGolfSouthAfrica | @Crushers_GC pic.twitter.com/injKR1ID03
Tens of thousands of fans crammed into Steyn City to watch this superman of the game perform, and he certainly gave them their money’s worth.
It goes without saying, of course, that DeChambeau never really faces a par-5. He can get up in two at any hole anywhere and Steyn City’s long holes are no exception. Bryson's first ever round in South Africa, therefore, was a fantastic eight-under-par 63, topped with a last hole birdie, and he shares the day one individual lead on eight-under-par 63. Some going!