Bryson DeChambeau fired a 5-under-par 66 to maintain his one-shot lead after two rounds Saturday of LIV Golf Mexico City.
.@brysondech still leads the way heading into Championship Sunday 📈#LIVGolfMexicoCity pic.twitter.com/FprWcA3CsB
— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) April 26, 2025
DeChambeau made eagle for the second consecutive round at the 316-yard par-4 second hole at Club de Golf Chapultepec.
"I do (like that hole) right now – 4-under through two days is pretty awesome," DeChambeau said. "Hopefully, I can do it again tomorrow."
He added birdies at Nos. 3, 7, 12, 13, 16 and 18 to counter bogeys at Nos. 5, 9 and 11 – all par-4 holes. He birdied the three par-5 holes, Nos. 7, 12 and 16 to help get to 13 going into the final round of the tournament.
Game recognizes game 🤝
— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) April 27, 2025
We're all set for a BIG final round in Mexico City 🇲🇽#LIVGolfMexicoCity pic.twitter.com/Ghs8gHpiQu
DeChambeau said his mindset on Sunday will be to stick with the "same game plan."
Bryson DeChambeau has played the 316 yard, par 4, 2nd hole in just 4 shots for 2 rounds. Eagle, eagle. He’s currently 2 clear at LIV Golf Mexico and taking the course to pieces 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ihSoJqEX59
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) April 26, 2025
"... being aggressive when I feel comfortable and laying back in the places where I can still make birdie when I'm not," he said. "If I get my starting lines down tomorrow and feel like I can ball strike it the way I know I can when I'm playing my best, it's going to be a fun day and a challenging day, and this golf course is getting tricky. It's getting very difficult. It's just little bounces here and there."
Australia's Cameron Smith remained one stroke back with his 66 featuring one eagle, five birdies and two bogeys. After starting his round with birdies at two of the first three holes – parring No. 2 – Smith gave the strokes back with back-to-back bogeys at Nos. 5-6.
He responded with a birdie at the 625-yard, par-5 seventh hole and added birdies at Nos. 12 and 13 and an eagle at the 575-yard, par-5 No. 16.
The 12th hole requires DISTANCE 💪#LIVGolfMexicoCity @aramco pic.twitter.com/LqxtoysiAH
— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) April 27, 2025
"Yeah, much more of the same, really," Smith said in comparing his first two rounds. "Played really aggressive golf. Hit the driver quite nice and gave myself plenty of opportunities, so I got off to a really good start. I had a couple of bogeys in a row there through 5 and 6. Just hung in there and kept giving myself chances."
Chile's Joaquin Niemann tied for the low round of the day, a 7-under 64, to climb alone in third place at 10 under. Niemann, who shot 68 on Friday, like Smith made an eagle at No. 16. He also birdied Nos. 2, 7, 10, 11, 12 and 13 but followed that sizzling streak with a bogey at the par-3 No. 14.
"I feel like yesterday I hit a lot of good putts, just getting adjusted to these greens," Niemann said. "They're a little bit tricky, the whole place going one way, the greens going the other way. It's kind of tricky, but I feel like I'm getting adjusted."
Also within range with one round to play is Spain's Jon Rahm (69 on Saturday) in fourth at 9 under, England's Tyrrell Hatton (67) in fifth at 8 under, and Australia's Matt Jones (67) and American Harold Varner III (57) tied for sixth at 7 under.
Smith is the captain of Ripper GC, which leads the team competition at a collective 24 under after a round of 9 under. Crushers GC featuring captain DeChambeau are two strokes back, and Torque GC with captain Niemann are at 19 under, tied with Rahm's Legion XIII for third place at 19 under.