Bryson DeChambeau‘s popularity has been the driving force behind his showmanship. He brings that extra bit of energy in every tournament he plays, where he interacts with the fans or gives enthusiastic reactions. This often leads to loud cheers across the fairway as everyone is just as involved in the actions as DeChambeau himself. And sometimes, the celebrations are so loud that they make it difficult for others around the hole to concentrate on their shot. Tom McKibbin got a taste of it a few minutes ago at Quail Hollow.

The layout of the iconic PGA Tour course is such that the 14th and 17th holes are right across each other. The only thing separating them is a pond. DeChambeau was teeing off at the 17th (one of the toughest par-3s played on the PGA Tour) while McKibbin was preparing for his approach shot on the par-4 14th. As Bryson’s ball landed on the green and rolled just 3 inches short of the cup, fans around him started cheering out loud to celebrate the near miss of an ace. The cheers were loud enough to be heard across the pond as the Legion XIII pro got too distracted to take a swing.

With his hands on his waist now, McKibbin waited for a minute for the noise to die down before taking his approach shot. However, the energy of the crowd seemed to have rubbed off on him as well, as he, too, had something to celebrate on the 14th. Just like DeChambeau enjoyed a birdie on the 17th, McKibbin also hit an excellent approach shot to set himself up for a birdie of his own.

Aces and birdies aside, how have the two LIV Golf pros and their peers performed in the 2025 PGA Championship so far?

Does Bryson DeChambeau & Co. have a go for glory at Quail Hollow?

After the end of the first 18 holes, many LIV Golf pros have finished in the top half of the table. Tyrrell Hatton is tied at T9 with a 3-under par 68 at the end of Thursday. Legion XIII players Jon Rahm and Tom McKibbin are sitting two strokes behind the Englishman at T29. David Puig and Bryson DeChambeau have managed to finish on par and are placed at T46.

Tied with DeChambeau’s rival from Augusta National, Rory McIlroy, Joaquin Niemann, and Dean Burmester are at T98 with a 3-over par 74. Brooks Koepka and Sergio Garcia have managed to finish with a 5-over par 76 and might find it difficult to make the weekend leg.

After the end of the round, Hatton, Rahm, and McKibbin seem like strong contenders for the title as they are only 3 strokes away from the top of the table. Within the next few hours, we will learn who makes the cut and ends up close to the winning position to lift the Wanamaker Trophy. Who will you place your bets on to win the 2025 PGA Championship?