Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Lee Westwood in share of lead at four-under after first round at LIV Golf Singapore
Published 12/03/2026 at 09:58 GMT
The opening round of LIV Golf Singapore was a tough test at Sentosa Golf Club. Jon Rahm won last week in Hong Kong, and he made a bright start on Thursday to secure a share of the lead at four-under alongside Bryson DeChambeau, Lee Westwood and Richard T. Lee. Defending champion Joaqun Niemann is two shots off the lead after posting a round of 69 in a bunched field.
'Oh boy' - Dechambeau's bunker fail
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Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII made a strong start to LIV Golf Singapore, as Bryson DeChambeau found form at Sentosa.
On a day when 15 shots separated the leaders from last place, all four members of Legion XIII performed with credit.
Rahm, looking to back up his win in Hong Kong last week, eased to a round of 67 for a share of the lead. He felt conditions were tough in the second part of his round.
"The final nine holes, the wind started switching," Rahm said. "The subsequent holes were not easy as you had to contend with a different wind.
"In general, this golf course is not easy. The greens are great, they are rolling great, but it is tough. You have got to hit fairways and be accurate with your irons."
Rahm birdied the three par fives on Thursday, and suggested it was down to his excellence off the tee.
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"I am hitting it better off the tee, and it all starts with that on the par fives," Rahm said.
"You have got to put it in play and once you are in play I am long enough to have a comfortable number. I think that has been the main difference."
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The Spaniard was ably supported by Tyrrell Hatton (68) Caleb Surratt (69) and Tom McKibbin (69) for a combined team score of 11-under.
After the opening 18 holes, Legion XIII hold a six-shot cushion over DeChambeau’s Crushers GC.
DeChambeau made a slow start to the 2026 LIV Golf season, and was a little erratic early in his round on Thursday - notably trying to be too cute from a bunker and leaving his ball in the sand.
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'Oh boy' - Dechambeau's bunker fail
Video credit: TNT Sports
But the big-hitting American found his stride on his back nine and closed out his round with three successive birdies for a share of the lead at four-under.
"There was a fight out there, the wind was all over the place," DeChambeau said on TNT Sports. "I was super-frustrated. Just hitting shots and have the wind completely flip.
"I wound up finishing really nicely with three birdies. It was just a fight out there. I made a lot of tough putts for par and that is what you have to do to go low out here."
With the Masters looming on the horizon, DeChambeau feels Sentosa is the ideal test to prepare for a major.
"It is a tough golf course," he said. "It is a good golf course to get your game ready and in shape for some major golf, especially with the greens the way they are.
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"It is a great test, but I just have to be a little better. I played well and finished well, but want to feel a little more comfortable."
Lee Westwood built on his promising effort in Hong Kong with a round of 67 for a share of the lead.
Westwood has been battling a wrist injury, but there were no signs of discomfort aside from strapping on his arm.
The Englishman was his usual impressive self from tee to green as he made four birdies in his opening 18 holes.
The highlight of Richard T. Lee’s round was a hole out from a bunker, and it helped him sign for a share of the lead at four-under.
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'How smooth did that find the bottom of the hole?' - Lee holes out from bunker
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