Bryson DeChambeau leads LIV Golf SA, local hopefuls Southern Guard in second

The Southern Guards are second on the team leaderboard through two rounds at LIV Golf South Africa, two shots behind Torque GC. Meanwhile, the club's best player through 36 holes, Branden Grace, is tied for second individually, two shots behind leader DeChambeau.

The American, at 14 under after his six-under 65 at the jam-packed Steyn City, and Grace, who shot 66 to move to 12 under, will play in the final group Saturday for the second consecutive day along with Fireballs GC's David Puig (-12).

The Crushers GC captain opened his round by holing his second shot from at the par four opening hole for eagle, then followed with a 31-foot birdie putt at the second. He made four birdies along with a bogey in his next nine holes before suffering a double bogey at the par four 12th, which gave his chasers a sense of relief.

He birdied two of his final three holes to take the solo lead.

"Felt like it could've been a nine or ten under round today the way it started," said DeChambeau, seeking to win for the second consecutive week after claiming Aramco LIV Golf Singapore in a playoff last week.

Grace was a bogey-free five under through his first 14 holes, then bounced back from his only bogey by sticking it close with his tee shot at the par three 17th, the Lion's Den hole with the party atmosphere.

Grace's teammate Dean Burmester contributed a 7-under 64, tying with Puig for the low round of the day. Burmester is tied for fourth at 11 under with Jon Rahm, Abraham Ancer and Charles Howell III.

The Southern Guards are collectively at 34 under, while Joaquin Niemann and his Torque club moved to the top of the team leaderboard at 36 under after shooting 22 under on Friday, with Ancer, Niemann and Carlos Ortiz each shooting six under 65s. Sebastian Munoz added a 67.

Sergio Garcia's Fireballs GC are in third place at 33 under, just a shot back of the Southern Guards, while DeChambeau's Crushers are in fourth at 31 under.