A small change in his hip movement and a smoother swing helped Bryson DeChambeau shoot a 5-under 65 in the first round of LIV Golf Korea. After the round, he explained what had changed in his game.

DeChambeau shot a 5-under 65 to share the lead with Charles Howell III and Scott Vincent in the opening round of LIV Golf Korea on May 28, at Asiad Country Club in Gijang, Busan, South Korea. He shared the lead after round one. Speaking to the media afterward, the Crushers GC captain broke down what's changed in his swing.

"I've changed my golf swing a little bit," DeChambeau said. "I've been working on some hip turn stuff that's allowed me to feel freer through impact. Still have a couple right misses every once in a while, but that seemed to allow me to ball strike it pretty well."

He was 6-under through 10 holes before the back nine trimmed his round. A shot on 15 jumped 35 yards and went into the water. On 13, he flew a shot 12 yards long, went down the hill, and three-putted. Two holes. Three dropped shots.

"Those two things right there could have easily been three shots different," he said. "Could have shot 8- or 9-under today."

DeChambeau has won twice on LIV Golf in 2026. He missed the cut at both the Masters and the PGA Championship. He said the irons are getting closer to where he wants them.

"I really want to get back to what I was doing at Greenbrier, how comfortable I felt," he said. "I feel like I'm super close; I feel like I'm getting closer with my irons, which is great."

Korea has been good to him. He won the individual title at LIV Golf Korea last year. Thursday put him right back at the top.

Bryson DeChambeau Leads, But He Says Putting Decides Everything From Here

The swing changes are only one part of what helped DeChambeau take the lead, but putting is the other big key.

During his media interaction, DeChambeau said the tournament will also depend a lot on putting. He said, “I need to make sure I keep the ball on my line when I putt. Putting is what I need to focus on, making good putts and avoiding three-putts.”

The hip turn change has helped DeChambeau feel freer when hitting the ball. He said he still sometimes misses shots to the right, but overall, his ball-striking has improved.

He said he felt close to his best form at Aronimink and at the Masters. “I felt like I was very close to playing the way I did at Greenbrier,” he said. On Thursday in Korea, he felt closer to that level than he had in a long time.

Asiad Country Club demands precision. "Your ball-striking has to be premier; you can't fake it around here," he said.

So with two rounds remaining, and DeChambeau leading, do you think he will be able to secure his second consecutive LIV Golf Korea title on Sunday?

Do you think DeChambeau's swing changes are enough to win back-to-back in Korea? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

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Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Souvik Roy