Tom McKibbin is into the top 25 after 54 holes as Lucas Herbert continues to ride his hot streak at LIV Golf UK and takes a three-stroke lead into the final round.
The Holywood man carded a second successive two-under round of 70 to move to three-under-par, while Graeme McDowell, after back-to-back level-par rounds shot a three-over 75 to fall to T41.
Herbert’s round didn’t come quite as easy as it did the first two rounds, but he’s been the model of consistency all week, and a three-shot cushion over Bryson DeChambeau heading into Sunday is a testament to just how well he’s played.
Herbert attributed his superb play to feeling comfortable having a level of comfort while playing with a lead that’s carried him through multiple wire-to-wire wins in his career.
“I enjoy it. I enjoy being in the lead,” Herbert said. “It’s been awesome to play with Bryson the last couple days and get to play with him again tomorrow. It’s a great energy out there. Any time when you’re in the lead you get good energy. I think maybe playing under pressure brings the best out of me.”
Herbert was candid that he wasn’t entirely happy with his putting speed Saturday and wants a sharper final round, especially with a number of two dangerous players chasing him along with nd potentially unsettled weather on the way.
“You can’t play match play against these two guys too much. They’re great players,” he said of DeChambeau and Hatton. “If they get on a run like I’ve just seen our captain Cam (Smith) do on the back nine, not a lot I can do about catching them. So I am going to do my best just to stick to what I’m doing, try and make as many putts as I can. I wasn’t happy with my speed out there. I was a little tentative today. That’s not going to happen tomorrow. I am going to make sure I get the ball to the hole and get a lot more chances.”
DeChambeau kept himself in the hunt with a 4-under 68 on Saturday, moving to 17-under and holding solo second. The Crushers GC captain has now posted three straight rounds in the 60s this week, and while he trails Herbert by three, it feels as though there’s still another level for him to unlock on Sunday with the ability to go low.
“So excited for the chance tomorrow and looking forward to a good battle tomorrow,” DeChamebeau said. “Time to go get it.”
Tyrrell Hatton had another strong day in front of the home crowd. A 5-under 67 moved him to 15-under and puts him in solo third place, two clear of the chasing pack behind him.
Saturday’s signature moment belonged to Cameron Smith. The Ripper GC captain caught fire on the back nine, ripping off eight consecutive birdies to tie the LIV Golf record for consecutive birdies in a single round, part of a 6-under 66 that moved him to 14-under and into solo fourth. Smith said he didn’t even realize what was building until it was well underway.
“Really didn’t start to think about it until I holed that long one on 15 there and then hit a couple nice shots into 16 and 17 that were all pretty cruisy,” he said. “That drive on 18 got me. I hate that tee shot so much.” He credited simply trusting his process on a day he didn’t feel he was hitting it his best. “Yeah, I mean, just committed to the process and the shots and the feels,” Smith said. “I think when it’s all going your way it’s easy to do. It’s when it’s not that it’s hard to do. So, yeah, just tried to hit shots and it worked out.” Asked to put the streak in context, Smith didn’t hesitate. “I don’t think I’ve done that before, so it’s definitely top of the list of birdies in a row. It’s a pretty cool thing to do.”
As Ripper GC’s captain, Smith also offered a glimpse into the team’s low-key approach to staying loose during a dominant week, crediting some lighthearted team bonding — including a carrot-cutting bit from Herbert the night before — for keeping spirits high. “We’ve been pretty cruisy all week,” Smith said. “The boys get their physio and stuff done and hit a few balls and then have dinner and it’s pretty much straight to sleep.”
Harold Varner III and Abraham Ancer are tied for fifth at 13-under, with Ancer posting the low round of the day, a 7-under 65. Byeong Hun An sits alone in seventh at 11-under. Marc Leishman, Caleb Surratt and Charles Howell III are tied for eighth at 9-under, while Peter Uihlein, Scott Vincent and Adrian Meronk share 11th at 8-under.
The team leaderboard tells much the same story as the individual race. Ripper GC leads at 41-under, powered by Herbert’s 20-under individual mark and Cameron Smith’s brilliant 66, with Leishman contributing steadily throughout the week. Crushers GC sits second at 32-under behind DeChambeau, with Charles Howell III providing solid support. Legion XIII holds third at 29-under, buoyed by Hatton’s continued steady play, with Surratt also playing a role. Torque GC rounds out the top four at 19-under.
As for the home crowd’s other rooting interest, Majesticks GC have Ian Poulter and Laurie Canter tied for 14th individually at 7-under. It hasn’t translated into a run at the top of the team leaderboard, but the energy from the Rocester fans hasn’t wavered regardless of where the team sits on the leaderboard.
Sunday sets up as Herbert’s tournament to lose with DeChambeau as a dangerous chaser behind him and Hatton hoping to give the home fans a run at the individual title.
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