LIV Golf
Halfway Leaderboard: Gooch Takes Command at Asiad
Talor Gooch has seized control of Korea with a commanding -8 total after Round 1, sitting one shot clear of Bryson DeChambeau at Asiad Country Club. Gooch carded a sensational 69 to open his account, while DeChambeau’s 65 keeps him firmly in the hunt at -7. The American duo has already created daylight over the chasing pack, with five players sharing third place at -5: Charles Howell III, Joaquin Niemann, Thomas Pieters, Cameron Smith, and Scott Vincent. This is a tournament wide open beyond the top two, but Gooch is setting the early pace with supreme authority.
Our Pre-Tournament Pick
Jon Rahm opened with a solid 70 to sit at -2, leaving him nine shots adrift of Gooch heading into Round 2. Our pre-event selection finds himself in a tough spot after the opening 36 holes. Rahm is still very much in the 72-hole picture given LIV Golf’s compressed format and no-cut structure, but he needs a significant spark over the weekend to threaten the leaders. The gap is considerable, and the early leaderboard suggests the better-positioned players are those who have already found their form here.
Who’s in Contention
Gooch at -8 is the clear frontrunner and market favourite at 5/1 with bet365. His lead is slender but meaningful: one shot over DeChambeau, who remains the second choice at 2.25/1 after his blistering opening 65. The Japanese course appears to suit the powerful American bombers, and both men have signalled their intent early.
Below them, the -5 brigade offers genuine value angles. Howell III (14/1), Niemann (7.5/1), and Cameron Smith (9/1) are well-positioned at just three shots back. Smith in particular looks a live layup: he’s posted a -2 opening round and sits alongside Howell and Niemann at -5. Scott Vincent (10/1) rounds out the tight bunch at the top. None of these players have the betting favour of Gooch or DeChambeau, but the five-way tie at -5 keeps the tournament genuinely competitive heading into Round 2.
Round 2 Betting Angles
Momentum is everything in 54-hole golf. Gooch has it in spades, and laying him at 5/1 looks risky when he’s carved out a genuine advantage. DeChambeau’s opening 65 suggests he’s in the zone, but he’ll need to maintain that intensity to reel in the leader.
The real value lies with the -5 cluster. Howell III and Niemann are just three back and showed early composure. If either can post a -3 or better Round 2, they’ll be breathing down Gooch’s neck come the weekend. Smith’s -2 opening is the weakest link in that group, but at 9/1, he offers genuine value if he can tighten his game over the next 36 holes. Vincent’s 10/1 price is worth monitoring: he’s right there at -5 and hasn’t had the tournament narrative yet.
Lucas Herbert, fresh off a -4 opening round, deserves monitoring for low-round potential. He’s at -3 overall, but his scoring intensity through Round 1 suggests he’s dialled in at Asiad.
Our Updated Pick
Odds: 7.5/1 – bet365
Niemann sits at -5 after Round 1, just three shots behind Gooch, and offers genuine value at 7.5/1. He’s shown composure early and remains well-positioned in a tight contest. With two rounds remaining in the 72-hole format, Niemann has time to capitalise if the leaders falter, and his price reflects bookmaker scepticism rather than genuine form weakness.
Top 5 After Round 1
| Pos | Player | R1 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Talor Gooch | 69 | -8 |
| 2 | Bryson DeChambeau | 65 | -7 |
| 3 | Charles Howell III | 65 | -5 |
| 4 | Joaquin Niemann | 66 | -5 |
| 5 | Thomas Pieters | 66 | -5 |
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