The LIV Golf League was in party mode in Nashville on Saturday and Tyrrell Hatton of Legion XIII was up for the challenge. Bogey-free and seven birdies sees Hatton (-13) three clear at the top, from Crushers GC pair, John Catlin (-10) and Bryson DeChambeau (-9).
Graeme McDowell recovered well today as he went around on three-under for his second round, to leave the Smash GC player under-par for the week heading into the final day. Four birdies today with only one dropped shot on the 629-yard par-5 11th would see McDowell T38 at the end of play on -1.
The team standings heading into the final day would see Legion XIII (-28) five strokes clear from the Crushers (-23). After a long hot evening, Majesticks GC sit four further back on -19 with help from Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter. While Joaquin Niemann’s Torque GC lurk one back on -18.
Overnight leader Ancer couldn’t follow up his opening day’s form. Three bogeys and a double on the par-4 12th saw the Mexican drop back into the field and the Fireballs GC player sits T27 after a +4 second round. Catlin from Crushers GC went about his business neat-and-tidy with six birdies, only tempered by one dropped shot on the par-4 ninth. He sits second, one shot clear of his team captain DeChambeau after his second -5 of the week.
The “party hole” was a raucous affair that welcomed the freshly crowned US Open Champion, with the crowds packed deep on an amphitheater created around The Grove’s par-3 15th. Jon Rahm was on hand on Saturday with an eight-under round bringing the Spaniard back into contention and level with DeChambeau heading into the final day. With five shots between the top-six on a shotgun start, in the hot Tennessee sun. Nashville is going to give us plenty of drama on the final day.
Rahm and Hatton were out front for a lively press debriefing. After two amazing rounds both players were asked to sum up how their day went: “Yeah, so obviously got off to a little bit of a slow start in terms of scoring through the first 11 holes,” said Hatton. “It was a little bit scruffy from tee to green in places, and it was nice to hole that putt on 12, and obviously chipping in on 13 was a bonus. Although I wasn’t that far away from the hole, you just kind of want to make 3 and move on. And holing a long putt on 14. I definitely had momentum on my side and carried that through to the finish. Very happy with how the back nine played out.”
Rahm was more composed in his response: “Besides my starting hole of the day where I just got a little unlucky with my lie in the bunker, the next 17 holes was really good golf. 9-under, never really was out of position. Really, really happy and comfortable with the way I drove it.”
Tyrell Hatton was asked about his nerves heading into the final day tomorrow: “I mean, yeah, I’ll probably be a little bit nervous tomorrow, but I’d say that’s a good thing. Obviously if you’re nervous about something, you genuinely care about it.” he said. “It doesn’t change the fact that I’m still going to go out there and try my best on every single shot, exactly the same as what I’ve done the last two days. That’s all I can do tomorrow and try and put together a good round of golf.”
Hatton takes a three-stroke lead into Sunday as he starts his final day with Catlin and DeChambeau for competition in Nashville. They hit the course for the final shotgun start of the week at 7PM Irish time on Sunday.
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