NEWS AND NOTES: BRYSON'S PUTTING ADJUSTMENT PAYING OFF
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. – Matthew Wolff and David Puig share the individual lead at LIV Golf Greenbrier and Torque GC is on top of the team leaderboard, but there are plenty of other news and notes from the second round.
NOTES
DECHAMBEAU’S PUTTING ADJUSTMENT: Bryson DeChambeau credits an alignment adjustment in his shoulder for his improved performance on the greens this week.
DeChambeau said his shoulders were open instead of square to the ball, preventing him from seeing the same line with his ball to the putt. “If one of those things are off, I get uncomfortable and that’s when I don’t putt as well,” he said.
Through two rounds, he’s needed just 53 putts, tied for fifth lowest total in the field, and he rolled in several long putts Saturday.
IMPACT OF THE EARLY START: With the shotgun start moved up to avoid inclement weather in the Sunday afternoon forecast, The Old White course may play slightly different.
“It’ll probably be a little softer,” said DeChambeau. “So really have to be OK with trying to play some lower flighted shots in there and not trying to create too much spin next to the hole.”
“It might be a little bit more wet on the ground,” added Matthew Wolff. “But I feel like we’re in a good spot and we’re playing well.”
TORQUE EYES NO. 4: Torque GC started the week in second place in the season-long team standings, 39 points behind 4Aces GC. A victory on Sunday is worth 32 points, and with the 4Aces currently outside the top eight that receives points, Torque could make a big move should Joaquin Niemann’s team win for the fourth time this season.
“We’re a good group of guys and we work very hard,” said David Puig. “We deserve to be in the first spot.”
Torque’s depth was on full display Saturday, with Puig (65), Sebastián Muñoz (64) and Mito Pereira (62) contributing while Neimann shot even par. Niemann had entered this week as Greenbrier’s “unofficial” defending champion, having won the last pro tournament held at The Old White in 2019.
“Joaco didn’t have his best, but he’s still the defending champ,” Puig said. “He’s going to play good tomorrow, for sure.”
BROOKS’ STREAK ENDS: Brooks Koepka had provided a counting score for his Smash GC team in each of the first 28 rounds this season. But the streak ended Saturday after the reigning PGA Championship winner shot an even-par 70.
Matthew Wolff’s 67, Jason Kokrak’s 68 and Chase Koepka’s 68 were the three counting scores for Smash. Brooks Koepka shot a 65 in the opening round after arriving the day before following the birth of his son but saw his three birdies negated by one bogey and one double on Saturday.
Ripper GC Captain Cameron Smith and HyFlyers GC’s Cameron Tringale are the last two remaining players this season who have provided counting scores in every round.
Click here for a full recap of the second round.
RD. 2 STAT LEADERS
Driving distance – Dean Burmester, 346.8-yard average
Longest drive – Peter Uihlein, 360.4 yards (17th hole)
Driving accuracy – Sebastián Muñoz, Abraham Ancer, 93% (13 of 14)
Greens in regulation – Harold Varner III, Mito Pereira, Cameron Smith, Danny Lee, 94% (17 of 18)
Fewest putts – Lee Westwood, 22 putts
Most birdies – Bryson DeChambeau, Mito Pereira, 9
Bogey-free rounds – Bryson DeChambeau (61), Richard Bland (63), Brendan Steele (63), Talor Gooch (64), Cameron Smith (64), Charles Howell III (66), Ian Poulter (66), Henrik Stenson (66), Patrick Reed (67,) Matt Jones (68)