Rd. 2 News And Notes: Rahm impressed by DeChambeau
COLLEGE GROVE, Tenn. - Round 2 of LIV Golf Nashville is in the books, and the fans came out in force to see the LIV Golf League's stars. Here are some news and notes from Saturday at The Grove.
RELATED: HATTON LEADS BY 3; DECHAMBEAU IN PURSUIT; RAHM’S LEGION XIII TAKES TEAM LEAD
RAHM IMPRESSED BY DECHAMBEAU: Legion XIII captain Jon Rahm knows what it’s like dealing with a post-major winning hangover, having done it twice in his career. He’s impressed that Crushers GC Captain Bryson DeChambeau has managed to stay competitive this week at LIV Golf Nashville, especially after a media tour of New York before traveling to Tennessee while also engaging with so many fans who have been captivated by his victory at Pinehurst.
“Bryson seems to be a guy that naturally has a lot of energy,” said Rahm, who is tied for third with DeChambeau at 9 under. “I would never question him being able to perform. But I think it becomes more a mental thing. Can you focus on still playing good golf even though you’ve accomplished something incredible? I think he’s in good enough shape physically that he can handle it. It’s just being able to do it mentally.”
DeChambeau acknowledges that he’s running on empty but said being in a position to win his first LIV Golf individual title of the season should provide plenty of juice for the final round.
“I think being in contention will help give me that adrenaline spike,” he said. “I don’t know how much adrenaline I have, but what I have will be used tomorrow.”
RAHM NOT YET 100%: Although Rahm shot the day’s lowest score with an 8-under 63 Saturday, he’s still not fully recovered from the foot infection that sidelined him the last two weeks.
“I wouldn’t say completely, but I played nearly 18 holes pain-free,” said Rahm, who opened with a 1-under 70. “That’s probably why I hit it so much better. Yesterday it bugged me a little bit, and it’s just in the back of your head for a second – at least it was yesterday. But not today. …
“I feel like the more I play, the more comfortable I’m going to get with it. I’m always confident I can shoot low. I just didn’t know how it was going to play out.”
CATLIN SERVING NOTICE: In addition to chasing a LIV Golf trophy on Sunday, Crushers reserve player John Catlin realizes he also has a chance to make an impression on any captains who may have an open roster spot next season.
Catlin, in solo second at 10 under, hopes to earn a spot in next year’s LIV Golf League. There will be multiple spots open due to LIV Golf’s relegation system that involves players who finish 49th or lower in the final individual points standings.
“I’d be lying if I said it didn’t creep in there,” said Catlin, currently second in the International Series standings. “But I don’t really have any control over that. … If I just keep doing what I’m doing, things are going to work out.”
Catlin has played on multiple tours across the globe since turning pro in 2013 but estimates he’s made a dozen or less starts in the U.S. Catlin also filled in for Charles Howell III two weeks ago in Houston, finishing T24.
“I couldn’t be more proud of John and the way he’s performing for our team,” said DeChambeau.
BOGEY-FREE MAJESTICKS CO-CAPTAINS: Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson, the three Majesticks GC co-captains, each carded bogey-free rounds on Saturday. In fact, the Majesticks suffered just one bogey in the 72 holes the team played, and it happened on Sam Horsfield’s opening hole.
Westwood has not suffered a bogey in the first two rounds in shooting 69-66 to move into a tie for seventh. He said recent work with coach Pete Cowan is paying big dividends as he seeks to turn around his season. He entered Nashville ranked 52nd in points.
“Starting to see some positive signs,” Westwood said. “It’s been some solid stuff out of the first two days.”
The Majesticks are in solo third going into Sunday and are hoping to break a string of 26 consecutive starts (24 regular season) without a podium result.
“Just need to keep our foot on the gas and make as many birdies as we can,” Horsfield said.
DJ TURNS 40: 4Aces GC Captain Dustin Johnson, a two-time major winner and three-time winner in LIV Golf, received a cake on the range Saturday as he celebrated his 40th birthday. Johnson shot a 1-under 70 and is tied for 44th at even par.
PARTY HOLE STATS: The par-3 15th played to 136 yards on Saturday and remains as the only par 3 among the four at The Grove to play under par. The second-round field stroke average was 2.883. Of the 54 players in the field, 12 made birdies and just three suffered bogeys.
If any player makes a hole-in-one this week at the 15th, one lucky fan will win $100,000 through a Party Hole giveaway for those who sign up for LIV X. RangeGoats GC Captain Bubba Watson came within 3 feet Saturday of making an ace.
ROUND 2 STATS LEADERS
Driving accuracy: Branden Grace, Phil Mickelson, 92.86% (13 of 14 fairways hit)
Driving distance: Dean Burmester, 345.4 yards avg.
Longest drive: Dean Burmester, 373.4 yards, 18th hole
Greens in regulation: Jon Rahm, 94.44% (17 of 18 greens)
Scrambling: Ian Poulter (6 of 6), Kieran Vincent (4 of 4), Lee Westwood (4 of 4), Adrian Meronk (4 of 4), Henrik Stenson (3 of 3), Jason Kokrak (2 of 2), Tyrrell Hatton (2 of 2) 100%
Putting: Richard Bland, Martin Kaymer, Matthew Wolff, Louis Oosthuizen, Graeme McDowell, 1.39 putts per hole
Bogey-free rounds: Tyrrell Hatton (65), Jason Kokrak (65), Adrian Meronk (66), Ian Poulter (67), Henrik Stenson (68), Lee Westwood (69)