DeChambeau makes jump to LIV Golf
Former U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau became the latest big name to sign on with the Saudi-funded breakaway series LIV Golf, and Charl Schwartzel remained on course Friday to win the maximum prize of $4.75 million at its inaugural event outside London.
That kind of big money has convinced a long line of leading golfers — although none from the top 10 so far — to accept offers from the series bankrolled by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund. DeChambeau is yet to explain why he made an about-face to join that list, having previously said he would continue playing on the PGA Tour. That may not be possible now, as the PGA Tour announced Thursday that players who defect to the renegade series will face banishment from future tour events.
DeChambeau will be joining a series that features Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson, who are also among the golfers to have spent the week facing questions about the decision to sign up given Saudi Arabia’s human rights violations.
On the course, Schwartzel shot a 4under-par 66 to take a three-shot lead over fellow South African Hennie Du Plessis in the fight for the $4 million individual first prize at the 54-hole event, which will be decided Saturday. Both players are on the Stinger team that is leading the way to share a $3 million purse for the best four-man team.
DeChambeau’s signing was announced as the second round was taking place.
PGA Tour: Wyndham Clark closed with an unlikely par save to take a one-stroke lead over defending champion Rory McIlroy and four other players in the RBC Canadian Open in Toronto.
After bogeying Nos. 15 and 16 in windy conditions at St. George’s, Clark got up-and-down from about 50 feet from a semi-plugged lie on the downslope in a greenside bunker on the par-4 18th. He was 7-under after an even-par 70.
McIlroy (68) was tied with Matt Fitzpatrick (70), Alex Smalley (67), Keith Mitchell (67) and
Jim Knous (67).
LPGA Tour: Australian rookie Stephanie Kyriacou shot a 6-under 67 to take the first-round lead in the ShopRite LPGA Classic at Seaview Hotel and Golf Club in New Jersey.
The 21-year-old Kyriacou, a two-time winner on the Ladies European Tour, teed off at 7:15 a.m. in the first group of the day off No. 1 on the Bay Course, before the tricky
wind began to blow off Reeds Bay. At 6,197 yards, the course is among the shortest on tour, but the stiff breeze and small, undulating greens help provide a stiff challenge.
Sweden’s Frida Kinhult was a stroke back.
European tour: Australia’s Jason Scrivener shot an 8-under 64 to lead by two strokes at the halfway point of the Scandinavian Mixed event in Tylosand, Sweden, with two female players — Italian amateur Carolina Melgrati and home favorite Linn Grant — among his closest challengers.
Scrivener’s bogey-free second round at Halmstad Golf Club in southern Sweden included a run of five birdies in seven holes on the back nine, leaving the No. 214-ranked player at 12-under overall.
The tournament sees 78 men and 78 women play on the same course — though off different tees — for one prize fund and one trophy, and two women in particular look set to contend.
Melgrati, a 19-year-old who attends the University of Arizona, was tied for the lead after a firstround 65 and followed that up by shooting 69 to move onto 10-under.
Also on that number was Grant, who is from Sweden, after a round of 68.
PGA Tour Champions:
Steve Flesch shot a 7under 65 to take the first-round lead in the American Family Insurance Championship in Madison, Wis.
Miguel Angel Jimenez and Colin Montgomerie were a stroke back.