Tony Paul asks Rahm, DeChambeau about going from match play Saturday to stroke play Sunday.
Tony Paul asks Rahm, DeChambeau about going from match play Saturday to stroke play Sunday.
Plymouth Township ― To think, there actually was a time, and not that long ago, that Bryson DeChambeau wasn’t all that popular, among fans or even his fellow players.
Those days are long gone. Now, everywhere DeChambeau goes, he’s must-see entertainment as evidenced by the throngs in the thousands who packed nearly every tee box and fairway to see his every shot ― but especially his booming, majestic drives ― on Day 2 of LIV Golf’s team championship at The Cardinal at Saint John’s Resort on Saturday.
At day’s end, it was a putt that might’ve elicited the biggest roar, as he drained a 15-footer from the fringe for birdie on his last hole of the day to secure a 1-up victory over Talor Gooch, for the definitive point that put DeChambeau’s popular Crushers GC team into Sunday’s finals. DeChambeau’s Crushers, who eliminated Brooks Koepka’s Smash GC, two points to one, are looking for a second team championship in three years and a piece of the $14-million first prize.
DeChambeau is looking for his second professional victory in the area after dismantling Detroit Golf Club in 2020 to win the Rocket Classic, back when he was on the PGA Tour.
The crowds weren’t allowed on the grounds in 2020 because of COVID-19. They made up for it Saturday, seeing DeChambeau rally from an early two-hole deficit to beat Gooch.
“The people of Detroit are exciting,” said DeChambeau, whose rise in popularity in golf circles is tied in large part to his booming presence on YouTube. “They definitely are not afraid to speak their mind.
“It’s a lot of fun being up in Detroit.”
DeChambeau drew the consistently largest galleries throughout the day Saturday, when more than 10,000 fans were in attendance for the second day of LIV Golf’s first stop in Michigan.
The most impressive crowd shot came on the first hole of the day, at the par-4 first, for the start of the headliner match between Jon Rahm and Phil Mickelson, two of the game’s biggest stars of their respective generations. Fans were packed in several deep at the opening tee box, and all the way down the hole, too, even behind the green. DeChambeau could see the gallery for Rahm-Mickelson from his place on the fifth hole, and called it a “sea of people.”
Rahm ended up getting the best of Mickelson, his fellow Arizona State alum, taking the lead when Mickelson bogeyed the par-4 12th, and making it a two-hole advantage when he birdied the par-5 14th. Making a 10-foot putt for par on the par-3 17th, Rahm closed out the match, 2 and 1, to send his Legion XIII squad past HyFlyers GC, 2-1.
“I was thinking earlier today, he’s been a professional at this sport longer than I’ve been alive,” said Rahm, 30, who was born in 1994, two years after Mickelson turned pro to start a career that eventually landed him in the World Golf Hall of Fame. “It’s scary to go against someone like that who’s actually been driving it really straight this year, had a great day yesterday (beating David Puig, 1 up), has been playing really good. I didn’t have my best stuff yesterday, so was definitely feeling a little bit of pressure.
“Just coming down the stretch, even making that putt, it’s emotional. He’s such a good friend. You never want to beat a friend. … It’s a weird feeling, but proud of myself and how I fought.”
Mickelson took the lead on the first hole, nearly driving the 375-yard par 4. The two are good friends, and enjoy mixing it off. Once, Mickelson refused to concede a short putt to Rahm, as is standard in match play. So, the next time Mickelson had a short putt, Rahm told him to putt it out, too.
Everything, of course, will be putted out Sunday afternoon, when the format switches to stroke play, with all four scores for the Crushers, Legion XIII and Stinger GC, captained by Louis Oosthuizen to a 2-1 upset win over Joaquin Niemann’s Torque GC, will be eligible for the championship in 2025, as the wrap-up to LIV Golf’s fourth season.
DeChambeau’s team includes Paul Casey, Charles Howell III and Anirban Lahiri; Rahm’s includes Tyrrell Hatton, Tom McKibbin and Caleb Surratt; and Oosthuizen’s includes Dean Burmester, Branden Grace and Charl Schwartzel.
The three losing teams Saturday will be playing for places fourth through sixth in the season points race Sunday, while the other six teams will be playing for places seventh through 12th.
“I think we all play to be in this situation, to have a shot at it tomorrow,” Oosthuizen said, moments before Imagine Dragons played its signature song, “Believer,” in a concert attended by thousands in an amphitheater setting just outside of the Saint John’s clubhouse.
Watch: Imagine Dragons perform at LIV Golf
“It’s going to be go big or go home. We’re going to try our best to upset everyone and see if we can get it done.”
Sunday will be a modified shotgun start, with the 12 players from the top three teams all teeing off on the No. 1 hole, in four successive groups, with the captains of the three finalists, DeChambeau, Rahm and Oosthuizen, all paired together and teeing off last ― so they’ll be the last players on the golf course, when everything’s on the line.
LIV Golf team championship
At The Cardinal at Saint John’s Resort, Plymouth Township
SATURDAY’S SEMIFINAL MATCHES
➤ Legion XIII d. HyFlyers GC, 2-1: Jon Rahm (L) d. Phil Mickelson, 2 and 1; Cameron Tringale (H) d. Tyrrell Hatton, 2 and 1; Caleb Surratt-Tom McKibbin (L) d. Brendan Steele-Andy Ogletree, 3 and 1
➤ Crushers GC d. Smash GC, 2-1: Brooks Koepka (S) d. Anirban Lahiri, 1 up; Bryson DeChambeau (C) d. Talor Gooch, 1 up; Paul Casey-Charles Howell III (C) d. Graeme McDowell-Jason Kokrak, 2 up
➤ Stinger GC d. Torque GC, 2-1: Dean Burmester (S) d. Joaquin Niemann, 2 up; Mito Pereira (T) d. Branden Grace, 4 and 2; Louis Oosthuizen-Charl Schwartzel (S) d. Sebastian Munoz-Carlos Ortiz, 2 and 1
SATURDAY’S STANDINGS MATCHES (CONSOLATION)
➤ Fireballs GC d. Cleeks GC, 2-1: Abraham Ancer (F) d. Adrian Meronk, 2 and 1; Richard Bland (C) d. Josele Ballester, 6 and 4; Sergio Garcia-David Puig (F) d. Martin Kaymer-Frederik Kjettrup, 4 and 2
➤ 4Aces GC d. Majesticks GC, 3-0: Henrik Stenson vs. Dustin Johnson (4) d. Henrik Stenson, 1 up; Patrick Reed (4A) d. Sam Horsfield, 2 and 1; Lee Westwood-Ian Poulter vs. Harold Varner III-Thomas Pieters (4A) d. Lee Westwood-Ian Poulter, 6 and 5
➤ Ripper GC d. RangeGoats GC, 2-1: Cameron Smith (Ri) d. Ben Campbell, 1 up; Matthew Wolff (Ra) d. Lucas Herbert, 2 and 1; Marc Leishman-Matt Jones (Ri) d. Peter Uihlein-Bubba Watson, 4 and 2
SUNDAY’S STROKE PLAY
Starting at 1:05 p.m. FS1, 1-4:30 p.m.; Fox, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
➤ Starting on No. 1: Branden Grace, Anirban Lahiri, Caleb Surratt
➤ No. 1: Tom McKibbin, Charl Schwartzel, Charles Howell III
➤ No. 1: Paul Casey, Tyrrell Hatton, Dean Burmester
➤ No. 1: Louis Oosthuizen, Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm
➤ No. 2: Joaquin Niemann, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson
➤ No. 3: Cameron Tringale, Sebastian Munoz, Talor Gooch
➤ No. 4: Graeme McDowell, Brendan Steele, Carlos Ortiz
➤ No. 5: Mito Pereira, Jason Kokrak, Andy Ogletree
➤ No. 6: Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith
➤ No. 7: Marc Leishman, David Puig, Patrick Reed
➤ No. 8: Thomas Pieters, Lucas Herbert, Abraham Ancer
➤ No. 9: Josele Ballester, Harold Varner III, Matt Jones
➤ No. 10: Bubba Watson, Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood
➤ No. 11: Sam Horsfield, Ben Campbell, Adrian Meronk
➤ No. 12: Richard Bland, Ian Poulter, Peter Uihlein
➤ No. 13: Matthew Wolff, Frederik Kjettrup, Henrik Stenson
tpaul@detroitnews.com
@tonypaul1984
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