Of leaders and real leaders

Writing from Bolingbrook, Illinois

Saturday, August 9, 2025

There’s an old saying in golf that in the early rounds, those in the lead are sometimes only there thanks to math, and that those in control of the proceedings, sometimes several strokes back, are the real leaders.

That brings us to the leader board at breezy Bolingbrook Golf Club, where LIV Golf Chicago as completed two of three rounds. Atop the pile through 36 holes is Dean Burmester, whose total of 9-under-par 133 is built upon rounds of 68 and 65, the latter crafted on Saturday of five birdies and an eagle, offset by a lone bogey.

Burmester is 36-year-old South African who played several years on the European Tour and for a brief time on the PGA Tour before jumping to LIV for a small bucket of cash. 

Nearly as well placed is Josele Ballester, the Spaniard who recently turned pro and remains better known for urinating into Rae’s Creek during the opening round of this year’s Masters. He has since apologized for the breach of toonimint ethics, and, as best is known, has thankfully availed himself of the facilities so far at Bolingbrook, which is dotted with tempting lakes.

Ballester, who got off to a shaky start in LIV but finished tied for seven in the most recent tournament in the U.K., stands at 7-under-par 135 after rounds of 69 and 66.

There’s someone else at 135: Jon Rahm, of whom you may have heard. He is among the world’s elite players, the defending champion at Bolingbrook and the premier gate attraction, along with Bryson DeChambeau, this weekend.

It’s not only fair to say Rahm is the real leader, the concept just about shouts at those who consult the scoring. Rahm has Masters and U.S. Open titles. Burmester has watched the Masters on television. Ballester found the creek but missed the cut at Augusta National.

That trio will be in the final grouping tomorrow morning – play begins at 9:05 a.m., courtesy of our television peers at Fox – but Rahm is the one to watch in the group.

DeChambeau is the other one to watch, and he’s immediately behind at at 6-under 136 following a second straight 3-under 68.

Rahm built his 4-under 67 on a foundation of 5-under across four holes – an eagle on the par-5 12th followed by three straight birdies after a so-so start. Burmaster used the same formula to kickstart his 6-under 66.

“I made an incredible swing on 12 on that second shot with a 4-iron,” Rahm said. “That was about as good as I can hit a golf shot. Making that eagle is what kind of propelled me, changed the momentum the rest of the round and gave myself a really god chance on those final nine holes.

“Happy to give myself another chance going into tomorrow.”

Rahm has mostly been out of the rough and in the fairways thus far, much as he was last year. He certainly seems to be a horse for this course.

Burmester had trailed Ballester by two strokes at the turn, but his eagle-birdie binge jumped him into the lead and he kept it. It was his second eagle on No. 12, a straightaway 621-yard hole reachable in two by big hitters, in as many days.

“It’s exactly what I needed,” Burmester said. “Eagle-birdie-birdie-birdie and just hang on coming in.”

It’s worked so far.

Ballester said he want back to basics after finishing tied for 50th and 48th in his first two LIV starts. Saturday’s round was his sixth straight under par.

“I’ve been working really hard over the last month,” Ballester said. “It’s been great to see it paying off a little bit.”

Spoken like a leader.

Around Bolingbrook

Anthony Kim, who opened with an 11-over 82, bounced back with a 3-under 68 on Saturday, one of his best rounds since rejoining competitive golf. It’s his seventh under-par rounds in 35 starts this season. … There’s a three-way tie for the team lead between the Crushers, captained by DeChambeau, the Fireballs, featuring Ballester, and Stinger, whom Bermester toils for. They’re all 10-under. Rahm’s Legion XIII is sixth at 1-under. … The 91-degree temperatures are slightly mitigated by clouds, but the steady 21-mph south wind had the feeling of a blast furnace. … The gallery of about 18,000 set a new LIV record for an American gallery. Friday’s appeared to be around 9,000. … Sunday TV: 9-11 a.m. on FS2, switching to WPWR-TV 50 at 11 a.m., as WFLD is occupied with the Bears’ preseason pillow fight with Miami.

– Tim Cronin