Paul Casey was on the golf course back home in Arizona just over a week ago. His cell phone rang. It was his Crushers captain, Bryson DeChambeau.

Casey answered. DeChambeau isn’t much for chit-chat. The conversation immediately focused on the new driver in the captain’s bag, from a company called Krank Golf that had made its mark on the competitive long-distance circuit but was also producing a pro model that conformed to USGA specs and seemed perfect for the impressive ball speed recorded by one of pro golf’s longest hitters.

“It’s amazing,” DeChambeau told his teammate.

Casey, who at age 46 is 17 years older and perhaps less prone to overzealous exclamations about the latest hot equipment, simply thought: “Oh, here we go.”

A few days later, the Crushers were at The Old White course in West Virginia for LIV Golf Greenbrier. It was after the first round, and the team’s scores were not particularly impressive. They were ninth on the leaderboard, with DeChambeau posting a two-under 68 that left him tied for 22nd individually, seven shots behind leader Matt Wolff.

And yet, DeChambeau seemed unusually upbeat about his play. Or as Casey described: “Super-excited. I’ve never seen anybody so pumped to shoot two-under when the leader was nine-under.”

Thirty-six historic holes later, everything came into focus.

BRY58N DECHAMBEAU ?#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/wMD5BLBtQh

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) August 7, 2023

DeChambeau fired a nine-under 61 in Saturday’s second round that tied the LIV Golf-record low and moved him just a shot off the 36-hole lead shared by the 24-year-old Wolff and the even-younger 21-year-old David Puig. Asked afterward about his new driver — equipment junkies are fascinated about any change in his bag — he declared that “it’s probably performed the best I’ve ever had in the past five years in professional golf”.

That round ended just after 5.30pm in West Virginia. Less than 16 hours later, DeChambeau teed off to begin his final 18 holes, striping a drive down the middle of the fairway on No 1. “Light the candle,” yelled one fan as the ball sailed toward the Appalachian Mountains that surround the Greenbrier Resort. He did. Six birdies in his first seven holes.

At that point, a low number crossed his mind. It wasn’t 59. Or even 58. It was 54, golf’s presumptive perfect score. At LIV Golf’s inaugural event in London last year, it was famously declared on the victory stage that a round of 54 would be rewarded with a $54 million bonus. Considering that The Guinness Book of World Records lists 55 as the lowest round ever shot, the odds seemed impossible, the reality unthinkable — except for that brief moment as he walked to the par-3 eighth, knowing he had two eagle opportunities on the back nine.

A title we'll never forget for @b_dechambeau ??#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/MoKYkxCZ09

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) August 7, 2023

“I keep going at this pace,” he thought, “it could be dangerous.”

The danger quickly vanished as he bogeyed the eighth, unable to get up-and-down after missing the green. But the pursuit of red numbers resumed. He bounced back with birdies on his next two holes, then another at the par-5 12th. Three consecutive birdies starting at the 15th finally provided separation from his closest pursuers, mainly the pesky Mito Pereira, who supplied enough pressure to keep DeChambeau competitively engaged.

It was now early afternoon. DeChambeau stood over a 40-foot birdie putt on the par-3 18th. The rain that had been forecast, prompting a change in start times, was now falling. With victory secured, he was at that moment putting for history. He was putting for 58 — although his primary objective was just to avoid a knee-knocker for 59.

DeChambeau starts his daily putting practice routine with a 40-foot putt just to loosen up. He makes them on occasion. When he stroked this one on Sunday, he had a good feeling. The line was perfect. Three-quarters of the way to the hole, it dawned on him what was about to happen. His 13th birdie of a most remarkable performance.

“Oh, my gosh, this isn’t going to go in, is it?” he recalled. “I’m like, ‘This is for 58, this is for 58, this is for 58.

“And then I explode.”

Inside the mind of man who just shot 5️⃣8️⃣?#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/sUsdXdAbG0

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) August 7, 2023

When the ball dropped, he leapt into the air, clenched his fists, and began receiving congratulations for the best round in LIV Golf’s young history (18 events) and just the fourth 58 on an elite professional tour. Casey and fellow Crusher Charles Howell III sprayed him with champagne —Anirban Lahiri arrived later, having finished his round on the other side of the course.

Caddie Greg Bodine might’ve been the only person unaware of the accomplishment. So intent of keeping his player in the moment, Bodine had apparently followed the same blinders-on approach.

“What did you shoot?” Bodine asked.

Responded DeChambeau: “58.”

“What?” Bodine said.

DeChambeau explained later: “He didn’t really even know. It was quite a funny exchange afterwards.”

Then DeChambeau added a line with even more significance: “Probably the greatest moment in my golf career.”

Considering he’s won 11 pro tournaments, including the 2020 US Open, it’s a revealing admission. But factor in all he’s been through since his last pro win in March of 2021.

Health issues. Weight fluctuation due to packing on (then taking off) muscle. The career-changing decision to join LIV Golf. Then the biggest blow, the death of his father Jon last November. Life-altering events, all of them. And remember, he’s still just 29 years old.

Yet he persevered. His on-course results earlier this year might have been cause for dejection, but he used them as motivation to work harder, improve, search for solutions. He spent endless hours on the range. It’s easy to think the Mad Scientist wants to outsmart others, but in reality, he simply wanted to outwork them.

His last few starts offered encouraging signs. A tie for fourth at the PGA Championship in May, his best major result since his US Open win. Then a runner-up at LIV Golf Andalucía, when it took a Talor Gooch birdie on the final hole to avoid a playoff. Despite the disappointment, he called winning a “process”, confident he was getting closer.

It finally arrived, a 61-58 on the weekend at Greenbrier. A stripe show off the tee. Knocking ’em close with his irons. Converting almost all those opportunities (he led the field by needing just 23 putts Sunday). Two birdie attempts each came an inch short of dropping. He was, in essence, two inches away from shooting 56.

It wasn’t just a win, but a statement.

We could watch this over and over again ?#LIVGolf @b_dechambeau @Crushers_GC pic.twitter.com/yE9whzOCj1

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) August 6, 2023

“He just shot 21-under the last two days. When the hell did that happen last?” said Lahiri, shock still evident on his face. “Ridiculous.”

“So proud of him,” added Howell. “He’s been playing good the last month or so, had great results. This has been coming.”

Said Casey: “The golf we saw him play at Winged Foot, it hasn’t been there the last couple of years. Not at his level, if you know what I mean. But since Spain, it’s been rock-star golf.”

Even so … 58? With a new driver and 5-wood? With a putting adjustment just before Greenbrier to close his shoulders and provide a better sight line?

Players tinker all the time. Improvements, if there are any, aren’t usually manifested overnight. Or maybe they are.

“I think that’s kind of how it happens in golf,” DeChambeau said. “For some reason it just clicks. It’s one round. It’s one shot. It’s one putt or something that just allows yourself to go, I’ve got it, and then you get right back on that train.”

Speaking of trains, the White Sulphur Springs Amtrak station is just across the street from the Greenbrier. But with the next LIV Golf event set for this week at Bedminster, a leisurely trip along the tracks isn’t exactly the most efficient mode of transportation.

So DeChambeau celebrated his historic round by boarding a plane on Sunday afternoon and flying to New Jersey. He wasn’t sure of his celebration plans but insisted he would “have a lot of fun”.

Less than six hours after that 40-foot putt dropped, he was in a hotel gym 400 miles away, working out. His definition of fun may not meet yours.

Maybe shooting 58 doesn’t require a new driver. Or a putting change. Or the bumpy roads and heartaches that life throws at all of us, building character, testing our commitment. Maybe it simply requires a good old-fashioned work ethic.

Bryson DeChambeau made history on Sunday at the Greenbrier. Better get accustomed to more of that. He doesn’t turn 30 until next month.

The post No accident: Inside Bryson DeChambeau’s 58 at the Greenbrier appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Bryson DeChambeau stole the show on Sunday at The Greenbrier, shooting a historic 58 to take home the individual title, but there were plenty of other tales to tell from the final round.

TORQUE STILL SECOND

“Look what I found” ?

A fourth Team Title of the season for @TorqueGC_ ??#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/ymudD4vDgd

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) August 6, 2023

Despite winning a record fourth team title this season, Torque remain in second place in the season-long points standings. With the 32 points for their victory, Torque have 161 points, with 4 Aces leading at 168 points.
“We won four times and we’re still second place,” said captain Joaquin Niemann. “I don’t know. It gives us a little fire to what’s coming next.”
“It’s a running joke on this team how the Aces keep going in front even though we keep winning,” added Sebastián Muñoz. “It just shows good they are, how consistent they are, how solid they are, and we are attempting to beat them.”
The 4 Aces, who won last year’s Team Championship, have two wins this season, including the previous event at LIV Golf London. The American quartet finished last in the team standings at Greenbrier, just the second time this season they’ve failed to finish in the points.

WOLFF, PUIG WATCH HISTORY

Bryson DeChambeau’s playing partners on Sunday — 24-year-old Matthew Wolff of Smash and 21-year-old David Puig of Torque — entered the final round sharing the lead. They didn’t get the trophy, but they did see history in the making.
“Ultimately, I have no control of Bryson shooting 58, but at the end of the day, I fought hard,” said Wolff, who shot 66 to finish at 16-under and a three-way tie for third. “I think I’ve just learned to accept outcomes. I’m really happy with where my game is trending.
“It was cool to have a front seat to history. Congratulations to him. That was an unreal performance. I hope next it’s me.”
Puig also said watching DeChambeau was a good learning experience. After a nervous start, he settled in on the back nine to shoot 66 and join Wolff in the tie for third.
“It was insane, honestly,” Puig said. “I think he was beating me by eight strokes after seven holes … It was awesome to see him making that final putt for 58, for sure.”

BRYSON AND HIS DAD

It’s been a long time coming. This is one of the best rounds of golf I have ever played in my life. I can’t thank my team enough and sticking with me through the process. Today may have been history, but this is just the beginning. Let’s keep it going ? pic.twitter.com/VTNJUf5mJo

— Bryson DeChambeau (@b_dechambeau) August 6, 2023

Sunday’s victory was the first by DeChambeau since his dad Jon passed away last November.
DeChambeau said that during the round, he kept his focus on the task of winning, but after making his final putt, his thoughts turned to his father.
“Afterward when I made that putt and sat over there on the side, I’m like, man, I wish my dad could have been here,” DeChambeau said. “But I know he was watching. It was really cool to have that moment.  My dad gave everything to have me be the best I possibly could be.”

WOLFF, BLAND CLIMB INSIDE TOP 24

Wolff and Richard Bland entered this week outside the top 24 in points that are guaranteed spots for the 2024 LIV Golf League at the end of this regular season. In tying for third place, both jumped inside the top 24.
The 50-year-old Bland of Cleeks took third place in points and moved from 32nd to 23rd in the standings. The 24-year-old Wolff moved from 27th to 20th by claiming the fifth-place points after the tiebreaker
David Puig also moved closer to the top 24 with his fourth-place points result and is now 27th in the standings.

SCHWARTZEL WITHDRAWS

Stinger’s Charl Schwartzel was forced to withdraw after eight holes due to injury. Schwartzel, who started on the fourth hole, was three-over for his round before leaving after the 11th hole. His score was not counting for the Stingers at the time, who finished third on the team leaderboard.

FINAL ROUND STAT LEADERS

Driving distance Dean Burmester, 346.3-yard average
Longest drive Bryson DeChambeau, 351.5 yards (6th hole)
Driving accuracy Louis Oosthuizen, 93% (13 of 14)
Greens in regulation Carlos Ortiz, 100% (18 of 18)
Fewest putts Bryson DeChambeau, 23 putts
Most birdies Bryson DeChambeau, 13
Bogey-free rounds Sergio Garcia (63), Carlos Ortiz (64), James Piot (64), Richard Bland (65), Anirban Lahiri (65), Lee Westwood (65), Dean Burmester (66), Cameron Tringale (66), Brendan Steele (67), Charles Howell III (67), Ian Poulter (69)

The post LIV Golf Greenbrier takeaways appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Old White Course at The Greenbrier gave up a final-round 59 to Stuart Appleby the first time it hosted a PGA Tour event back in 2010, the Aussie taking the inaugural title.

On Sunday, the course gave up a final-round 58 to Bryson DeChambeau the first time it hosted a LIV Golf League event, the American taking the inaugural title — and grabbing his first win anywhere since the Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2021.

DeChambeau showed signs that fireworks might be in order when he posted a nine-under 61 on Saturday to get into contention. But a 13-birdie, one-bogey performance on Sunday was more than anyone might expect, outpacing runner-up Mito Pereira by six shots.

5️⃣8️⃣ FOR THE TITLE!

A FIRST WIN FOR BRYSON, AND A FIRST ROUND UNDER 60 IN #LIVGOLF HISTORY! ?

A final round for the history books @b_dechambeau! pic.twitter.com/dxAvkGNXFv

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) August 6, 2023

Interestingly, DeChambeau put a new driver in the bag this week, switching to the Krank Golf Formula Fire LD driver that he has used previously in World Long Drive competitions. “How do I say this? It’s probably performed the best I’ve ever had in the past five years in professional golf for me, ever since 2018 when I was striping it early in the year,” DeChambeau said when asked about the new driver after his 61 on Saturday.

With the win, DeChambeau claimed the standard $4 million first-place prize money payout from the $20 million overall individual purse. Here’s the prize money payout for the field at Greenbrier.

INDIVIDUAL
Win: Bryson DeChambeau, -23, $4,000,000
2: Mito Pereira, -17, $2,250,000
T-3: Richard Bland, -16, $1,100,000
T-3: David Puig, -16, $1,100,000
T-3: Matthew Wolff, -16, $1,100,000
6: Harold Varner III, -15, $700,000
T-7: Carlos Ortiz, -14, $481,000
T-7: Dean Burmester, -14, $481,000
T-7: Branden Grace, -14, $481,000
T-7: Brendan Steele, -14, $481,000
T-7: Talor Gooch, -14, $481,000
T-12: Sergio Garcia, -12, $321,666
T-12: Bernd Wiesberger, -12, $321,666
T-12: Scott Vincent, -12, $321,666
T-12: Cameron Tringale, -12, $321,666
T-12: Sebastian Munoz, -12, $321,666
T-12: Charles Howell III, -12, $321,666
T-18: Laurie Canter, -10, $250,000
T-18: Lee Westwood, -10, $250,000
T-18: Anirban Lahiri, -10, $250,000
T-18: Abraham Ancer, -10, $250,000
T-18: James Piot, -10, $250,000
T-23: Jason Kokrak, -9, $215,000
T-23: Joaquin Niemann, -9, $215,000
T-25: Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra, -8, $197,500
T-25: Phil Mickelson, -8, $197,500
T-25: Henrik Stenson, -8, $197,500
T-25: Louis Oosthuizen, -8, $197,500
T-29: Graeme McDowell, -7, $180,000
T-29: Bubba Watson, -7, $180,000
T-29: Ian Poulter, -7, $180,000
T-32: Dustin Johnson, -6, $162,500
T-32: Marc Leishman, -6, $162,500
T-32: Matt Jones, -6, $162,500
T-32: Cameron Smith, -6, $162,500
T-36: Paul Casey, -5, $148,750
T-36: Patrick Reed, -5, $148,750
T-38: Thomas Pieters, -3, $141,750
T-38: Danny Lee, -3, $141,750
T-38: Peter Uihlein, -3, $141,750
T-38: Brooks Koepka, -3, $141,750
42: Chase Koepka, -2, $135,000
T-43: Martin Kaymer, -1, $131,750
T-43: Kevin Na, -1, $131,750
45: Pat Perez, E, $127,500
T-46: Sihwan Kim, +1, $123,750
T-46: Jed Morgan, +1, $123,750
WD: Charl Schwartzel

TEAM
Win: Torque GC (Pereira, Puig, Niemann, Munoz), -49, $3,000,000
2: Crushers GC (DeChambeau, Lahiri, Casey, Howell), -46, $1,500,000
3: Stinger GC (Grace, Burmester, Oosthuizen, Schwartzel), -40 $500,000

The post Here’s the prize money payout for each golfer at the 2023 LIV Golf Greenbrier appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Bryson DeChambeau stood over his 40-foot putt at the 18th hole on Sunday at LIV Golf Greenbrier fully knowing the significance of the moment. Two putts would break 60.

That’s why he had just one thought: “Don’t give myself a 3-footer.”

He left nothing to chance, holing the mammoth putt for birdie, then celebrating with a leap for the ages — and into the history books. The Crushers captain set off a wild celebration on a rainy finish at The Old White course with an incredible round of 12-under 58, the lowest in LIV Golf’s young history and just the second in elite professional men’s golf.

An incredible victory and record round my friend. Enjoy every minute of it. A pleasure walking every step of 18 with you for your 58 finish. @b_dechambeau @Crushers_GC @livgolf_league pic.twitter.com/nIxNRaeqPD

— Greg Norman (@SharkGregNorman) August 6, 2023

The 58 not only proved to be the exclamation mark for his first LIV Golf individual victory, but he also considered it the “greatest moment of my career” that now includes 11 professional wins with one major.

“It’s beyond words,” said DeChambeau, who finished at 23-under to win by six strokes over a pesky Mito Pereira of Torque, who won their fourth team title of the season. “I’ve been working so hard for a long time, and I knew something special was going to come at some point. I just didn’t know when.”

The day before, DeChambeau shot 61, tying the previous LIV-record low. Following a low round with another is always difficult, but DeChambeau simply built on the momentum, posting birdies on six of his first seven holes.

With Pereira supplying pressure after his own hot start — five-under through his first eight holes, including an eagle hole-out from 159 yards on his opening hole — DeChambeau kept his foot on the gas.

DeChambeau is congratulated by Crushers teammates Charles Howell III and Paul Casey following his historic finish on Sunday. LIV Golf

“I was making birdie and he was making birdies, and then I think it was on 13 …  and [I] look at the leaderboard and he was already 19-under or something and I was 14,” Pereira said. “It was like, OK, I guess today is not my day.”

DeChambeau bounced back with birdies on three of his next four holes to increase his lead, then finished with a flourish -with four consecutive birdies, even as the rain that prompted an earlier shotgun start time began to make an impact.

“To even back up a 61 is really difficult,” said DeChambeau, who became the third player to break 60 during a professional tournament at The Old White course. “I had something special going on today, and I just felt super comfortable over tee shots and was able to play the course the way it was designed.”

Torque were also special in the team competition, with Pereira, David Puig (66) and captain Joaquin Niemann (66) supplying the counting scores on Sunday. Late in the round, the Spanish-speaking line-up reached 50 under as a team before finishing at 49-under to win by three strokes over DeChambeau’s Crushers. Stinger took the last podium spot at 40-under. The 49-under is the lowest counting score ever posted by a team.

The win moves Torque within seven points of league-leading 4 Aces, who finished in last place in the team standings on Sunday.

“We all knew that we’ve got enough golf to beat all the other teams, and we’re proving that, and we’ve been playing great golf all season,” Niemann said.

Meanwhile, DeChambeau played historic golf on Sunday. Not only did it leave him at a loss for words, but he wasn’t sure how to celebrate it.

“Zero clue,” he said, “but I’m going to have a lot of fun.”

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There were storms brewing ahead of Sunday’s final round at LIV Golf’s 10th event of 2023 at the Greenbrier, both on and off the course.

Due to the potential for inclement weather, Sunday’s final round of LIV Golf Greenbrier was brought forward to a shotgun start at 9.05am local time in West Virginia.

Meanwhile, David Puig, LIV Golf’s youngest player at age 21 is locked in a battle with Matthew Wolff for the individual title this weekend.

They shared a lot of laughs Saturday playing in the same group at LIV Golf Greenbrier. And now they share the lead going into the final round at The Old White course.

Wolff followed up his LIV-record tying 61 in the opening round with a three-under 67, while Puig shot 65, leaving both players at 12-under through the first 36 holes. That’s one stroke better than the trio of Bryson DeChambeau, Richard Bland and season-long points leader Talor Gooch, with four more players another stroke back.

Wolff and Puig will be paired again in the leading group that tees off on hole No. 1.

“I’m excited to play with him tomorrow,” Wolff said of the young Spanish star. “I’m excited to be tied for the lead. I’m going to go out there and give it my all, and we’ll see what happens.”

“The age helps probably to enjoy more … or have fun, maybe,” Puig said. “Looking forward to tomorrow.”

The third member of the lead group is Bland, who at 50 years old is the second oldest LIV Golf player.

“I’m trying to keep us oldies still relevant,” said Bland.

As a team, Puig’s Torque certainly had plenty of fun, with a cumulative second round score of 19-under with Mito Pereira’s 62 and Sebastián Muñoz’s 64 counting with Puig’s 65. That leaves Torque at 34-under and four shots ahead of Stinger. Four other teams are eight shots behind.

Torque are seeking their fourth team title of the season while hoping to close the gap with the league-leading 4 Aces, who are in 11th place after managing just even par on Saturday.

Bryson DeChambeau. LIV Golf

Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau might have had the most fun of any individual player on Saturday, shooting his lowest score in a LIV Golf tournament (61) to get to 11-under. His bogey-free round was fuelled by a hot putter, as he converted three birdie attempts of 27 feet or better, including a 47-footer at the 14th hole and a 32-footer at the fourth.

Add increased confidence with the new driver he put in his bag this week, and the Crushers captain is feeling good about his game. He took second place last month at LIV Golf Andalucía when Gooch birdied the final hole for his third win of the season.

“Obviously the putting was more important because that’s what allowed me to shoot that far under par,” said the 2020 US Open champ. “But the driving was on par if not better than that. Having this confidence off the tee is crucial to me playing well, and that’s what it’s provided me so far.”

Puig will be looking for his first professional win since turning pro last year. Wolff’s last pro win came in 2019 in just his third start after becoming a pro. Both players are just outside the top 24 in points who receive guaranteed spots at the end of the regular season for next year’s LIV Golf League.

Sunday at Greenbrier could be a big day for the two youngsters.

“I know we’re young but we’re here for a reason,” Wolff said. “I don’t really think anyone else is looking at us like, oh, we’re young. I think they all know we’re going to give it our best. There’s a reason we’re in the lead.”

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But after taking a two-shot lead after the first round on The Old White course, the young Smash star said his low score was not any kind of statement, nor a reflection of any drastic change in his approach.

“I just go out here and I give it my best every single day. It’s golf,” Wolff said. “It’s a roller-coaster, and I’m learning to accept the good and the bad as they come and roll with it. I haven’t changed anything.”

The numbers certainly were different for Wolff. In his last three LIV Golf starts, he failed to break 70 and averaged 74.6 per round. His best finish in that stretch was 44th in Andalucía.

On Friday, all that changed. Starting on the par-3 8th, he opened with a birdie, added two pars, then produced a four-hole stretch that included three birdies and an eagle. He then ended his round with three birdies in his last four holes.

The 61 is the fourth in LIV Golf history, tying the 61s shot by Branden Grace, Cameron Smith and Harold Varner III in Tulsa. Varner shot seven-under 63 on Friday to join David Puig as Wolff’s closest pursuers. Dean Burmester and Cameron Tringale are another stroke back after shooting 64.

Wolff looked more like the player who started the season with three consecutive top-12 finishes than the one who hasn’t scored points in the last six events and dropped to 27th in the season-long standings. Only the top 24 at the end of the regular season, as well as team captains, are guaranteed spots for next year’s LIV Golf League.

“Everyone goes through slumps, everyone goes through bad times, and I’m lucky mine only lasted a few tournaments,” Wolff said. “I started off the year really good, and I’m looking to end it really good.”

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman speaks to Brooks Koepka at The Greenbrier. LIV Golf

Wolff’s low round also helped Smash grab the team lead at 19-under, with captain Brooks Koepka and Jason Kokrak each contributing 5-under 65s. Koepka is making his first start since the birth of his son last week.

Smash, currently seventh in the season-long team points, is seeking its first win of the season. Koepka’s team leads by four shots over Torque, Stinger and RangeGoats.

Varner, who won LIV Golf DC, the last LIV tournament held in the United States, is as focused on his team’s success as much as his own. He desperately wants to catch the league-leading 4 Aces, who come off a win at London and are in sixth after Friday’s first round. The RangeGoats are currently third, just two points behind second-place Torque.

“We need to win,” Varner said after his bogey-free round. “An integral part of winning is playing well, so I’m just trying to play well and help the team as much as possible – and seven-unders will do that.”

For Wolff, nine-under is just the kind of round that could prove to be a turning point for a season that has gone awry lately. But he cautioned Friday that there’s no guarantee.

“It’s just golf,” Wolff said. “I mean, you play bad and then you play good. Like I said, I’m accepting the fact that just because I played well today, it might not go the same tomorrow or might go just as well.

“At the end of the day, I’m doing what I can and trying to shoot the lowest score I can every day. I promise, I’m trying.”

TEAM COUNTING SCORES

Here are the standings and counting scores for Friday’s opening round of the team competition at LIV Golf Greenbrier. The three best scores from each team count in every round for their total team score. The team with the lowest cumulative score after three rounds wins the team title.

1. SMASH GC (-19): Matthew Wolff 61, Brooks Koepka 65, Jason Kokrak 65
T2. TORQUE GC (-15): David Puig 63, Joaquin Niemann 65, Sebastian Munoz 67
T2. STINGER GC (-15): Dean Burmester 64, Louis Oosthuizen 65, Branden Grace 66
T2. RANGEGOATS GC (-15): Harold Varner III 63, Talor Gooch 65, Bubba Watson 67
5. HYFLYERS GC (-13): Cameron Tringale 64, Phil Mickelson 66, Brendan Steele 67
6. 4 ACES GC (-12): Dustin Johnson 65, Peter Uihlein 65, Pat Perez 68
7. MAJESTICKS GC (-11): Laurie Canter 65, Lee Westwood 66, Ian Poulter 68
8. CLEEKS GC (-10): Richard Bland 66, Bernd Wiesberger 66, Graeme McDowell 68
9. CRUSHERS GC (-9): Charles Howell III 65, Bryson DeChambeau 68, Paul Casey 68
10. FIREBALLS GC (-6): Carlos Ortiz 66, Sergio Garcia 69, Eugenio Chacarra 69
11. RIPPER GC (-5): Matt Jones 66, Cameron Smith 69, Marc Leishman 70
12. IRON HEADS GC (+2): Scott Vincent 69, Danny Lee 71, Sihwan Kim 73

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One week after becoming a father, Brooks Koepka was back at work, practising in the rain on Thursday for this week’s LIV Golf Greenbrier.

It wasn’t easy to leave his wife Jena and new son Crew, who was born on July 27, six weeks early. The good news is that mother and baby are doing well.

“That’s all that matters,” said the Smash captain, who arrived at Greenbrier at about 10:30am.

Koepka, at age 33, is a father for the first time. He and Jena made the announcement on Thursday on their social channels.

On her Instagram story, Jena wrote about her husband: “I seriously have never seen or felt so much love and felt more like a team than I have with Brooks throughout all of this. He is already such an amazing father and partner, and I was so thankful he was home for this. Couldn’t have done it without him. He made me laugh when I needed to, cried with me, held me, did everything possible he could do to help my healing in the hospital, and I’m just so grateful.”

On Thursday, Koepka spoke about becoming a dad.

“It’s crazy. It’s pretty wild, that’s for sure,” he said. “It’s definitely different. Love the little guy. Honestly, I can’t wait to get back and see him.”

For now, the immediate future includes the shotgun start onFriday at 1.15pm (9.15pm UAE) at The Old White course. He’ll tee off on the second hole with Patrick Reed and Graeme McDowell.

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As ever there are some intriguing pairings on LIV Golf this week, as the 48 players go in hunt for the 10th event in the 14-tournament 2023 season.

Triumphant last time out in London, Cameron Smith has been matched up with three-time 2023 individual winner Talor Gooch and big-hitting beast Bryson DeChambeau, while Brooks Koepka will be going head to head with his old pal Patrick Reed and Graeme McDowell in a major-winning trio.

There is an all captains (and major-winning) affair beginning on hole 3 as Louis Oosthuizen, Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia get going in the shotgun start on Friday.

Here is the full list of pairings for the showdown on the Old White course at the Greenbrier.

Groups set for Friday's Rd. 1 #LIVGolf Greenbrier

Shotgun start: 1:15 pm ET pic.twitter.com/N35mtnzmrz

— LIVGolfComms (@LIVGolfComms) August 2, 2023

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Of the nine professional events held here in the previous decade, 11-under 59s were shot by two different players. Not only were conditions perfect, but the par-4 16th was not nearly as difficult as it will play this week at 507 yards.

“They added a new tee on 16 and it’s a totally different hole,” said HyFlyers’ Cameron Tringale, the only player in this week’s 48-man field who played all nine previous Greenbrier events. “Used to be driver, wedge. Now it’s a good drive and maybe a 5-, 6- or 7-iron. That hole’s definitely much tougher.”

Iron Heads Captain Kevin Na, one of three former Greenbrier champions returning this week, was in the field when both 59s were shot (by Stuart Appleby in 2010 and Kevin Chappell in 2019).

“It’s got to be soft,” Na said. “The greens were soft that year, and right now I think the greens are slightly on the firmer side. Not super-firm, but it’s firm enough where a 59 is a bit of a stretch.

“But LIV guys, any guys could do it on a certain day … and if the greens are a little bit soft, I think guys will shoot some low numbers.”

The Old White course doesn’t favour one particular style, which should widen the list of potential winners this week.

“I can tell you that it doesn’t just favour the bombers, which I think is great,” Na said. “I think when you have a golf course that all different kinds of players can win, it tells you it’s a great golf course.”

With that in mind, here are the picks for our top five players and top four teams at this week’s LIV Golf Greenbrier.

FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH

Patrick Reed. Oisin Keniry

1. PATRICK REED In his first 15 regular-season starts since joining LIV Golf, Reed has produced seven top-5 points finishes – including his runner-up last month in London. But he’s still looking for his first LIV win. That should change this week.

2. CAMERON SMITH Won in London but didn’t have the kind of performance he was hoping during his title defense at the Open. Oddly, it was the putting stroke that let him down at Hoylake. A rare blip on the greens that won’t last.

3. JOAQUIN NIEMANN Has three top-10s in his last five LIV starts, but he hasn’t been in top form this season. Perhaps returning to a course in which he won four years ago will get him to the next gear.

4. SEBASTIAN MUNOZ He’s finished top 5 in three of his first nine starts and has a top 10 in another start. But this is more about his track record at the Greenbrier – top 10s in both previous visits.

5. BROOKS KOEPKA He’s never won a non-major on American soil between August through December. Does that mean anything? Probably not. He’s a threat every time he tees it up. A late-season surge this year could net him the Individual Champion bonus.

OTHERS

• Contemplated putting Cameron Tringale in the top five based on his course familiarity as well as his recent form (top 10s in his last three starts).
• Henrik Stenson was the best LIV performer at Hoylake and also played well in London. It was just a year ago he won at Bedminster, the site of next week’s LIV event.
• Bryson DeChambeau has played better of late, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he makes noise on Sunday.
• Just 11 of Talor Gooch’s league-leading 137 points have been accumulated on US soil.

FOUR TEAMS TO WATCH

Joaquin Niemann celebrates his birdie putt on the 16th green during the final round of the 2019 Military Tribute at The Greenbrier. Rob Carr/Getty Images

1. TORQUE Despite three wins this season, Joaquin Niemann’s team still trail the 4 Aces by 39 points. Plenty of incentive remains to catch last year’s champions, and Niemann and Munoz have good vibes here.

2. RANGEGOATS Former Greenbrier resident Bubba Watson loves it here, although his track record isn’t that great. The course may fit Talor Gooch and Harold Varner III a little better. The Goats have been the league’s most consistent team the last six events.

3. 4 ACES Dustin Johnson’s team are coming off a big win in London and are one of only two teams in which all four players in the line-up have previously competed on The Old White. (The Crushers are the other team.)

4. IRON HEADS Tough to ignore a team in which two of its four members have posted wins here. Their only podium finish came in Mayakoba when Danny Lee won. It may take another individual win to get them there again.

OTHERS

• Majesticks have finished fifth in two of the last three events and finally seem ready to contend.
• Now that Ripper has a taste of the podium, it’ll be interesting to see if they can build on it.

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ABOUT THE TOURNAMENT

When: Aug. 4-6, 2023
Where: The Old White at The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
Competition: 54 holes of stroke play
Field: 48 players/12 teams
Purse: $25 million ($20 million individual, $5 million team)
Winner’s Share: $4 million (individual), $3 million (team)
Local tee time: Shotgun start for Rds 1-2 at 1.15pm ET, Rd 3 at 1.05pm

KEY STORYLINES

• The LIV Golf League returns to the United States after playing its previous two tournaments in Europe
• Four tournaments remain in the regular season that will crown the Individual Champion and determine seeding for the season-ending Team Championship
• LIV Golf Greenbrier is the 10th elite professional tournament hosted by The Greenbrier since 2010
• Torque Captain Joaquin Niemann, Iron Heads Captain Kevin Na and his teammate Danny Lee have enjoyed previous success at The Old White
• RangeGoats Captain Bubba Watson is a former resident of The Greenbrier and was an unofficial ambassador in helping the resort recover from devastating floods in 2016
• 27 LIV Golf League members have prior experience competing at The Old White course, including multiple major winners Watson, Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson
• Ripper Captain Cameron Smith (individual) and 4 Aces (team) are the latest winners in the LIV Golf League, having claimed their titles in London
• The 4 Aces, captained by Johnson, lead the season-long race in the team standings, while the RangeGoats’ Talor Gooch leads the Individual Champion race
• Gooch has won the most individual titles this year with three, while Niemann’s Torque has three team wins
• Of the seven individual tournament winners this season, six have previously competed at The Old White — Gooch, Smith, Johnson, Lee, Charles Howell III and Harold Varner III

Joaquin Niemann celebrates his birdie putt on the 16th green during the final round of the 2019 Military Tribute at The Greenbrier. Rob Carr/Getty Images

WHAT THEY SAID

“Greenbrier, obviously for me, is a really special place … Once I saw that LIV Golf had Greenbrier on the schedule, I got pretty excited. It’s a course I really love.”
— Joaquin Niemann (2019 winner at Greenbrier)

The Greenbrier. Supplied

ABOUT THE COURSE

The Old White at Greenbrier
White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
Par: 71
Yardage: 7,186

• Designed by legendary architect Charles Blair Macdonald, The Old White opened for play in 1914
• Macdonald modelled several holes from some of the most famous in Europe, including holes from St Andrews and Prestwick in Scotland
• Macdonald’s associate Seth Raynor returned in the 1920s to oversee updates to the course
• The Old White hosted elite professional tournaments from 2010-19, with three current LIV Golf League members winning titles — Danny Lee (2015), Kevin Na (2018) and Joaquin Niemann (2019)
• Including those three winners, 27 current members have competed at The Old White, including major champions Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Louis Oosthuizen, Patrick Reed, Cameron Smith and Bubba Watson
• The Old White has yielded rounds of 59 by two different players while hosting previous professional events
• The par-3 18th is the shortest hole on the course at 155 yards
• The 354-yard 10th hole could play as a drivable par 4 at 309 yards depending on course set-up
• The 507-yard 16th is the longest par 4 on the course but could be moved up to 418 yards

HOW TO WATCH

United States: The CW Network airs the LIV Golf League in 100 per cent  of US markets.
Friday – Live on The CW App, LIV Golf Plus and LIV Golf YouTube
Saturday and Sunday – Live on The CW, LIV Golf Plus and LIV Golf YouTube.
Global: Broadcast in over 160 international territories Live and On-Demand, free of charge, via LIV Golf Plus. Available for download on iOS, Android, FireTV, and on LIVGolfPlus.com. Also airing on 12 international broadcast partners

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