Bryson DeChambeau shocks with a cold-topped drive, and then does something ridiculous

Well, you don’t see this every day.

Bryson DeChambeau usually provides fireworks on the golf course, but his topped drive that somehow led to a birdie—and the eventual first-round lead—at LIV Golf Adelaide in Australia needs to be filed under “Most Ridiculous Recoveries of 2026.”

The two-time U.S. Open champion cold-topped a drive at the 529-yard, par-5 10th at The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide. Despite the ball hitting the ground only a foot in front of where he teed up, it had enough velocity (and top spin) to travel 245 yards. Yes, a 245-yard top. (We should all be so lucky.)

While he would normally hope to be within about 170 yards of the green for his second shot on this par 5—DeChambeau regularly cranks drives over 360 yards—he had 278 yards out for his second. The Californian flushed a fairway metal high in the air with a slight draw, and it pitched over a greenside bunker and settled within 30 feet of the hole—for eagle.

A score of 3 would have been incredible, but DeChambeau two-putted for a head-scratching birdie that elevated his score to two under par.

The best part? DeChambeau then birdied the 11th to basically pull off a double bounce back.

The salvaged birdie on No.10 clearly lit a fire within the 32-year-old, because DeChambeau added birdies at 15, 17 and 18 to take a share of the first-round lead. He signed for a 66 that left him at six under, alongside Marc Leishman atop the leaderboard.

“Oh, yeah, it was a great line drive into the tee box and bounced it off the cart path,” DeChambeau said of the top, speaking after the round. “I had a nice scuff mark. Some kid has a nice scuff-marked ball out there. Then it was a perfect 287-yard 3-wood to 27 feet, and nice two-putt for birdie.”

DeChambeau said it had been almost five years since he domed a ball in competition.

“Last time I did that was 2021 Players Championship off the fourth tee box and it cost me the Players,” DeChambeau said of his T-3 at TPC Sawgrass, two shots behind winner Justin Thomas. “I've done it before. But that shot [today] was more of a thin shot. I just hit too far down on the ball. I actually struck it nicely; t was a perfect strike right into the tee box. It was awesome. Got to make sure I don't hit it with too negative an attack angle next time.”

Dustin Johnson and Anthony Kim were a shot back at five under while Jon Rahm was among those at four under.