Rd. 1 Quick Recap: Bryson shares Virginia lead as other LIV Golf stars lurk

GAINESVILLE, Va. — After a 107-minute weather delay, the star players took advantage of a soft golf course during the first round of LIV Golf Virginia presented by Maaden.

Bryson DeChambeau, who debuted his new set of custom LA Golf irons this week, was chief among them. The Crushers GC captain immediately chipped his 3rd shot on the par-5 14th in for eagle, vaulting him up the leaderboard. But he wasn’t done yet. DeChambeau made birdies on holes 15 and 16, with the latter coming in the form of another chip-in from the deep greenside rough. The surge at the end of the round gave him a share of the first-round lead at 5 under.

Martin Kaymer, who hasn’t held a first-round lead since LIV Houston last year, made birdies on 16, 17 and 18 to tie the lead before ending his day with a par on the tough par-4 1st hole.

The late-round birdie barrage after the delay was not limited to DeChambeau and Kaymer. After finishing strong, Jon Rahm, Anirban Lahiri, Phil Mickelson, Graeme McDowell , Joaquin Niemann and Marc Leishman make up the group that are tied for second place at 4-under par.

Prior to the delay, McDowell held the solo lead, carding a bogey-free 4-under 67. The 45-year-old Irishman hit every green in regulation and was one of three players who went bogey-free on the round. Joining McDowell in the bogey-free club was 4Aces GC's Thomas Pieters.

On the team side of the competition, Bubba Watson's RangeGoats GC lead by two at 9 under, followed by the Crushers and 4Aces who share second place at 7 under.