LIV Golf: Daily Report March 20, 2026

Karen Scheepers
Mar 20
2 min read

Good morning! We are moving into Round 2 at The Club at Steyn City. After a historic opening day, the atmosphere in Johannesburg is electric, with the home favorites currently sitting exactly where the local fans wanted them: at the top of the leaderboard.

📊 The Leaderboard: Round 1 Recap

The individual race is a dead heat between two "Crushers," while a South African icon is hot on their heels.

Position	Player	Team	Score
T1	Bryson DeChambeau	Crushers GC	-8 (63)
T1	Charles Howell III	Crushers GC	-8 (63)
T3	Branden Grace	Southern Guards GC	-7 (64)
T3	Sergio Garcia	Fireballs GC	-7 (64)
T5	Jon Rahm	Legion XIII	-6 (65)
T5	Talor Gooch	Smash GC	-6 (65)

Click here for full leaderboard : https://www.livgolf.com/schedule/south-africa-2026/leaderboard

Team Standings:

🇿🇦 Southern Guards GC: -18 (Leading by 1)
🇺🇸 Smash GC: -17
🇺🇸 Crushers GC: -16

Southern Guards GC: "The Pinnacle of my Career"

The all-South African quartet delivered a masterclass in "home-field advantage" yesterday. Despite the immense pressure and a record-breaking crowd, they combined for a staggering 18-under-par.

Branden Grace (-7): The star of the day for the Guards. His bogey-free 64 included a massive eagle on his final nine holes that ignited the gallery.
Charl Schwartzel (-5): The "Iron Man" of the round. Schwartzel battled a severe back injury that nearly forced him to withdraw hours before tee-off, yet he managed a brilliant 66.
Dean Burmester (-4): Described the day as the "pinnacle of his career," noting that he has never felt electricity like the "Lion's Den" at Hole 17.
Louis Oosthuizen (-2): The Captain overcame an early double-bogey with three straight birdies, showing the steady leadership needed to keep the team on top.

🦁 Day 1 Highlights: The "Lion's Den" Roars

The 17th hole lived up to the hype. As the designated party hole, it saw nearly 25,000 fans packed into the stadium seating. When the Southern Guards walked through the tunnel, the noise levels reportedly hit 110 decibels, comparable to a jet take-off.

The highlight of the day was Bryson DeChambeau's power display; he drove the green on two par-4s, proving that Steyn City’s altitude (1,500m above sea level) makes him even more dangerous.

🎧 Today’s Artist: Black Coffee ☕️

The music festival shifts into high gear today. After the final group finishes their round, the main stage will host a global icon.

Artist: Black Coffee (Grammy Award-winning DJ)
Vibe: Deep House / Afro-House.
Time: 5:00 PM SAST.
Why it matters: This is a major homecoming for Black Coffee. Expect a soulful, rhythmic set that celebrates the "South African Sound" on a global stage.

🕒 Round 2 Watchlist

Weather: Clear skies with a high of 28°C. Wind is expected to pick up in the afternoon, which could favor the local players who are used to the swirling Highveld gusts.
The Lead: Can the Southern Guards hold off the Smash GC (Gooch/Koepka)?
The "Bombers": Watch for DeChambeau and Burmester to take aggressive lines over the water hazards today as the greens firm up.