Branden Grace and Charl Schwartzel spark Southern Guards’ LIV Golf Adelaide revival
LIV GOLF
Branden Grace of the Southern Guards GC continued his fine form displayed at the Riyadh tournament to finish the second round on Friday in Adelaide with a -8 to tie for 6th heading into the third round on Saturday.
Image: LIV GOLF
The Southern Guards produced a spirited response in the second round of the LIV Golf Adelaide tournament on Friday, surging up the individual and team standings to keep themselves firmly in contention in Australia heading into the weekend.
After a disappointing opening round in which they combined for three over par, the South African quartet bounced back in impressive fashion.
Branden Grace and Charl Schwartzel (both on -8) led the charge as the team finished sixth on the day on -24. Captain Louis Oosthuizen (-3) and Dean Burmester (-1) also contributed under-par rounds, ensuring a dramatic turnaround from Thursday’s struggles where they ended 12th.
While the slow start has left them with ground to make up after two rounds, Friday’s performance has reignited hopes of a strong finish Down Under. The Southern Guards now have their sights set on RangeGoats GC and 4Aces GC, who are tied at -23 at the top of the team leaderboard.
With two rounds remaining, the momentum they gained could prove crucial.
Grace was particularly outstanding, carding a bogey-free 64 to move to nine under for the tournament following his opening-round 71 (-1). The South African found his rhythm after an even-par start, boxing four consecutive birdies to ignite his round. He sits tied for fifth in the individual standings, just four shots behind Spaniard Jon Rahm of Legion XIII GC.
Fresh off a stirring comeback performance in Riyadh last weekend, Grace looks well poised to mount another charge.
Schwartzel and Oosthuizen also showed resilience.
After both finished above par in the opening round, Schwartzel responded with a superb eight-under effort to climb into a tie for 16th alongside eight other players. His bounce-back round not only strengthened the team’s position but also restored confidence ahead of what promises to be a compelling weekend in Adelaide. Oosthuizen was four-over, but his -3 brought him back nicely.
Saturday’s shotgun start (5.15am SA time) will see Grace tee off on the first hole Par 4, while Schwartzel will be off the 7th, Burmester off hole No 8 and captain Oosthuizen on the 17th.