Talor Gooch Takes 36-Hole Lead at LIV Golf Korea, Bryson DeChambeau in Pursuit

By Yoo Jee-ho BUSAN, May 29 (Yonhap) -- American Talor Gooch soared to the 36-hole lead at LIV Golf Korea on Friday with his countryman and defending champion Bryson DeChambeau lurking. Gooch poured in eight birdies against just one bogey for a second-round score of 63 at the par-70, 7,024-yard Asiad Country Club in the southeastern city of Busan. Gooch, a four-time LIV Golf winner, is chasing his first victory since July 2025 and US$4 million in prize money. Gooch, who began his round on the eighth hole in the shotgun format, had five birdies over his final seven holes. "I hit a lot of shots close and made a bunch of putts. It was one of those days where everything was clicking," Gooch said. "I played well yesterday. I just didn't get the putter going, so it was good to get the putter going. It's a fun course and it's just another example that the course doesn't have to be 8,000 yards to be a good test." DeChambeau followed his 65 with 68, after making three birdies and one bogey. He made eight straight pars at one point. LIV Golf rookie Mun Do-yeob is the top South Korean player at the halfway point at four-under overall, after shooting his second straight round of 68. Mun joined Korean Golf Club earlier this week to replace Danny Lee. He was working on a bogey-free round through 14 holes but then made two bogeys down the stretch. LIV Golf also tracks team performances, with the aggregate scores by all four players on each team determining the positions. With captain Gooch doing the heavy lifting, his OKGC is atop the team leaderboard at 14-under, one ahead of DeChambeau's Crushers Golf Club. Korean Golf Club is tied for seventh at even par, with Song Young-han at two-under, Kim Min-kyu at three-over and captain An Byeong-hun at three-over. The winning team will receive $3 million, to be split among its four players.