Bryson DeChambeau builds two-shot lead at LIV Golf South Africa

Bryson DeChambeau will take a two-shot lead into the weekend at LIV Golf South Africa. 

The two-time major champion mixed seven birdies, one eagle and one double bogey in a second round 65 to reach 14 under, two clear of home favourite Branden Grace and Spain's David Puig. 

Jon Rahm went round The Club at Steyn City in 66 and is only three strokes back of DeChambeau.

DeChambeau is attempting to win in the league for the second consecutive week having defeated Canada's Richard Lee last Sunday in a playoff in Singapore. 

"Felt like it could've been a nine or 10-under round today the way it started," DeChambeau told reporters after his round, referencing the fact that he began by holing out for eagle and registering four more birdies on the front nine. 

DeChambeau dropped back with a double bogey at the 12th but put circles on his card at the 16th and 18th to take the solo lead from Puig and Grace. 

The 32-year-old claimed he is hitting his stride just in time for The Masters and believes he is getting closer to the type of form that saw him shoot a remarkable 12-under 58 during the final round of LIV's stop in West Virginia in 2023. 

"That's what I've been striving to get back to," he said. "I lost it a little bit. I've been working with Dana [Dahlquist, his coach] and then Sportsbox [an AI agent] to figure out what exactly I did back in '23 at Greenbrier. 

"I feel like I'm getting close to that again. So hopefully I can keep pushing towards that direction and roll strong."

Elsewhere, six-time major champion Phil Mickelson bounced back from his opening 75 with a 67 to climb off the bottom of the leaderboard. 

Mickelson is making his first start of the season after missing the first four events of LIV's schedule for a "private family matter".