SOTOGRANDE, Spain (AP) — Bryson DeChambeau made eagle on his final hole at the par-5 17th for an 8-under 63 and a one-shot lead over Talor Gooch on Saturday in LIV Golf-Valderrama.
DeChambeau has yet to win against the 48-man fields on the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League, and this might be his best chance. He played bogey-free for the day, and his eagle allowed him to move into the lead going into the third and final round.
Gooch, who won back-to-back LIV Golf events in Australia and Singapore earlier this year, had the lead for much of the second round at Valderrama, with eight birdies against one bogey. But then he took a second bogey on the 18th hole and finished with a par for a 65.
![Bryson DeChambeau reacts after missing a putt on the second hole during the third round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Oak Hill Country Club on Saturday, May 20, 2023, in Pittsford, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)](https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/0c8d103/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1686+0+157/resize/500x281!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstorage.googleapis.com%2Fafs-prod%2Fmedia%2Fd1d9154c47d542f182152802d047a77d%2F3000.jpeg)
They’ve hugged it out. They’ve made their money. They’ve moved on.
![Scottie Scheffler hits from the fairway on the sixth hole during the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Oak Hill Country Club on Friday, May 19, 2023, in Pittsford, N.Y. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)](https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/33e8575/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1686+0+157/resize/500x281!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstorage.googleapis.com%2Fafs-prod%2Fmedia%2Fcdb9997ea3c34b5495597f022a5f16f7%2F3000.jpeg)
Scottie Scheffler is part of a three-way tie for the lead going into the weekend at the PGA Championship.
![Bryson DeChambeau waves after his putt on the 15th hole during the first round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Oak Hill Country Club on Thursday, May 18, 2023, in Pittsford, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)](https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/d4db2d3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1686+0+157/resize/500x281!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstorage.googleapis.com%2Fafs-prod%2Fmedia%2F47b8ff70b5bc40e7a790288976f7456f%2F3000.jpeg)
Bryson DeChambeau is the leading the frost-delayed PGA Championship. It’s been more than a year since DeChambeau was the incredible bulk who tried to overpower golf courses.
PGA champion Brooks Koepka, who already has two LIV Golf wins along with Gooch and Dustin Johnson, got his lone mistake out of the way early and shot 65. He was three shots behind DeChambeau.
Johnson shared the opening-round lead but could only manage a 71, leaving him five back. Jason Kokrak was a late arrival due to travel from Ohio and was tied for the 18-hole lead with Johnson. He shot 74 and fell eight shots behind.
DeChambeau was at 9-under 133.
Among those at 1-under 141 was Sergio Garcia, who knows Valderrama as well as anyone. He had to settle for a 71 and was well back in his bid for a first LIV victory.
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