A third round 69 sees Belfast’s Tom McKibbin three off of 54-hole leader and teammate Jon Rahm as the 23-year-old holds a share of third on 11-under around Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico City.
McKibbin, who is yet to secure his maiden win on LIV Golf, posted a steady round, making his first birdie of the day on the par-4 second, driving the green and laying up his eagle putt to tap-in range for an easy three.
McKibbin made another birdie at the par-3 fourth, sticking his tee shot within 10 feet as he began to find some form in prime conditions.
Another birdie was secured at the 625 yard par-5 seventh, as McKibbin found the centre of a tight fairway to set himself up for an easy four.
A thinned chip shot at the par-5 12th saw McKibbin make his first bogey of the day, but the Belfast man did well to bounce back with a birdie at the 16th after a fine bunker shot.
McKibbin will be disappointed with this bogey at the par-4 17th, before making par at the last to post a three-under-par third round to see him amongst the leaders heading into the final round, behind his Legion XIII teammates Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton.
“Tomorrow we’ll all be going out there just to shoot the best score possible, and we’ll see where that stands after four days,” McKibbin said. “It’s sort of a weird position. We’re all playing against each other but then playing with each other … it’ll be an interesting day.”
McKibbin’s Legion XIII still maintain a 15 stroke lead in the teamed event. With Rahm and Tyrell Hatton ahead of McKibbin, Legion XIII has a chance to do something that hasn’t been done since LIV Golf’s inaugural tournament in London in 2022 – sweep the individual podium.
Rahm holds a two-stroke lead over the field after posting a four-under-par third round. Speaking on a final day grouping with teammate Tyrell Hatton, Rahm said: “I don’t see the dynamic changing a lot, but I can imagine we’re going to be speaking a little bit less than we do normally just because of the situation we’re going to be in.”
“Down the stretch, no matter who we’re playing with, the conversations are very limited,” he added.
Hatton, who posted a five-under-par 66 knows the challenge that awaits as he tries to chase down Rahm, the league’s current points leader and reigning two-time Individual Champion.
“I’ll be trying to make as many birdies as I can to overtake Jon, but that’s going to be a difficult task,” he said. “He’s proved many times how to win golf tournaments. He’s been incredibly consistent this season so far on LIV. It’s going to be a tough day, but hopefully I can play well and see what happens.”
Graeme McDowell is yet to post a round under par, as the 46-year-old made six birdies, five bogeys and a double to post a one-over 72 to put him at one-over for the tournament and in a share of 38th.
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