Tom McKibbin and Graeme McDowell are both in midfield at the halfway mark of LIV Golf UK as Lucas Herbert opened up a four-stroke lead at the top.
McKibbin made five birdies and three bogeys in a two-under round of 70 to move to T31 at one-under overall, one shot ahead of McDowell who shot back-to-back level-par 72s to sit tied for 36th.
Herbert followed his record-setting opening 61 with a 6-under 66 in the second round of LIV Golf UK Presented by JCB 2026, extending his individual score to 17-under through 36 holes.
It wasn’t quite the flawless golf of Thursday, but Herbert was candid about keeping perspective on a day that would have looked excellent by any other measure.
“If you hadn’t played that round yesterday, you wouldn’t have been too upset, concerned with it,” he said. “When you were 7-under through 10 the day before and then you’re trying to hole a 10-footer to stay 1-under 10, it feels like you’re playing a lot worse. I just try to keep perspective on it. I still played decent.”
He rebuilt his momentum on the back nine rather than unraveling it, a departure from patterns that have bitten him in the past. “You talk about momentum, I was able to build momentum on the back nine rather than every time I have a birdie, I tend to shoot myself in the foot on that front side,” he said.
Asked whether the tournament was shaping into a two-man race with Bryson DeChambeau three shots back, Herbert was careful not to get ahead of himself, pointing to Anthony Kim’s win in Adelaide earlier this year as a reminder of how quickly a perceived two-man battle can open back up.
“I think Bryson will have a bit of a job to do to make sure that it is a two-horse race,” he said. “We’re only halfway. We have a lot of golf to go, but I know I would love to make it a two-horse race with Bryson on Sunday, or maybe a one-horse race if I can.”
DeChambeau, for his part, continues to make sure he’s never too far behind. The Crushers GC captain posted a 5-under 67 in the second round, moving to 13-under and holding down solo second. It’s been a great stretch of golf for DeChambeau since Royal Birkdale, and the Rocester crowds have been treated to a classic DeChambeau performance so far. He remains squarely in the mix heading into the weekend, even with Herbert’s torrid pace out in front of him.
Tyrrell Hatton has emerged as the clear third contender of the week, and it’s fitting given the home crowd’s investment in his game. The Legion XIII star backed up his opening 66 with a 4-under 68 on Friday, moving to 10-under and solo third. He was honest that his putter hasn’t quite matched the rest of his game this week, particularly on left-to-right putts.
“I’ve been struggling with left-to-right putts this week. Feels like the ball’s just slipping off the face. So I’m not really hitting the line I want to,” he said, admitting he was surprised to see a putt on the 9th find the hole. Even so, he’s right where he wants to be entering the weekend, three shots clear of the chasing pack, and embracing the atmosphere at his home event.
Just behind him, Byeong Hun An and Harold Varner III are tied for fourth at 9-under, both coming off matching 68s in the second round. Legion XIII’s Caleb Surratt sits in a group at 7-under after a second-round 69, rounding out the group of players still within siren distance of the lead. Cameron Smith and Peter Uihlein are tied at 8-under after matching 67s, while Marc Leishman and Dean Burmester round out that group, also at 8-under.
The home fans have plenty to root for beyond Hatton, too. Majesticks GC, playing in front of its own crowd all week, sits well back on the leaderboard but has shown signs of life, with Ian Poulter continuing to be the steadiest of the group after his 5-under and in a tie for 17th. The energy from the galleries has been there for the home team regardless of where they sit.
Ripper GC’s dominance extends to the team leaderboard as well, where Herbert’s heroics have the team to 37-under, with Leishman (68) and Smith (67) both contributing strong second rounds and Travis Smyth adding a 69.
Crushers GC sits second at 28-under behind DeChambeau, with Charles Howell III and Anirban Lahiri both in support. Legion XIII moved into third at 19-under, powered by Hatton’s strong play, with Surratt also contributing. Southern Guards GC rounds out the top four at 12-under, led by Burmester’s 66.
Halfway through the week, LIV Golf UK remains Herbert’s tournament to lose — but with DeChambeau lurking, Hatton giving the home fans plenty to cheer, and Herbert himself unwilling to call it a two-horse race just yet, the final two rounds at JCB Golf & Country Club are shaping up to be must-watch.
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