Bryson DeChambeau may be five shots off the pace at LIV Golf Greenbrier heading into the weekend, but if history is anything to go by, the Crushers captain remains well in the hunt.
DeChambeau carded a two-under-par 68 in Friday's opening round, having made five birdies and three bogeys across his first 18 holes of the week. Despite finding himself in the red, he has work to do ahead of round two, with Jason Kokrak and Talor Gooch leading the way at the top at seven-under.
DeChambeau headed into this week's event as defending champion, having clinched his first LIV Golf title at the West Virginia course, winning by five shots ahead of Mito Pereira last campaign.
It was how the the U.S. Open champion got his hands on the prize though that was so impressive, having carded a record-breaking 12-under 58 in last year's final round - LIV's first-ever round below 60. Whilst he finds himself sat in a tie for 24th this time around, his past experiences around the Greenbrier track.
On the week of his victory 12 months ago, DeChambeau found himself in a similar position, sitting tied 25th after 18 holes in 2023. He also started his week with a two-under 68, before carding a seven-under 61 a day later, breaking 60 24 hours later in the final round of the tournament.
There is no doubt a similar showing over the next two days would put him in prime position to win once more, but DeChambeau believes there is a possibility of going even lower than 58. "I believe there will be a 57 at some point," DeChambeau said ahead of this week's tournament.
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"Even a 56 potentially. I think a 57 has been potentially shot on other tours before, but it's going to just get more consistent over the course of time. We're just too good now, and it's fun. When you're in that mindset and you've got that, oh, we're going low and making everything, these guys know, it's why we do it. It's why we play golf."
On the back of making history last season, the Greenbrier course is a special place for the Crushers star. "Being here in general is just an amazing experience that you feel at home," he added. "It's a really cool feeling for me to comeback every single time I've been here, whether it was previous to LIV or now, and still just feel incredibly comfortable.
"The people here, are fantastic. Like Patrick said, they just make you feel like you're at home, like you're part of a great big family. I just feel like a kid again being here. DeChambeau is not the only man to break 60 in the breakaway league's relatively short history. LIV's current season-long leader Joaquin Niemann also achieved the feat earlier this season on the way to winning the title at Mayakoba in Mexico.
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