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Lucas Herbert will take a four-shot advantage over Bryson DeChambeau entering this weekend at LIV Golf United Kingdom presented by JCB. The next closest pursuer is Tyrrell Hatton, but he is seven shots behind.
Herbert, who competed in Virginia two months ago to win his first LIV golf title, hopes he and DeChambeau can continue to separate themselves from the pack, leaving them to battle it out in Sunday’s final round. Only one other storyline would appeal more to the Ripper GC star.
“I would love to make it a two-horse race with Bryson on Sunday,” Herbert said. “Or maybe a one-horse race if I can.”
The way Herbert is playing now, no one doubts that he can run away from the pack. The 30-year-old Australian followed his course-record 11-under 61 in Thursday’s opening round with a 6-under 66, fueled by an impressive response from the back nine after DeChambeau passed him for the lead midway through Friday at JCB Golf & Country Club.
At 17 under, Herbert has the tournament in his hands; As a proven leader, it will be difficult to reign over him. He nevertheless remains cautious about his chances with 36 holes to play.
“I’ve seen it happen before, it’s like there’s only two of us in the tournament and everyone kind of gets caught up in this thing and other guys come back,” Herbert said. “I think of Anthony Kim winning in Adelaide earlier this year when everyone thought it was Bryson and Jon. [Rahm] show there on Sunday. We’re only halfway there. We have a lot of golf to do. »
DeChambeau, at 13 years removed from his 5-under 67, knows the challenge will be tough, especially given Herbert’s current form. Last week, Herbert was the 36-hole leader at the Open Championship after tying a major men’s record with his 62 in the second round. He ultimately finished T6, the best result of his major career.
Asked what it would take to catch Herbert, DeChambeau responded with a laugh: “Just shoot 10 under par both days. That’s what I feel like I have to do. Him being four steps ahead, it’s not going to be an easy task. … It’s going to be a big battle no matter what. I hope I can give him a battle.”
DeChambeau can at least build on the first half of Friday’s round when he rallied from a three-shot deficit to take the lead. DeChambeau was 5 under with no bogeys through 10 holes, while Herbert’s putter went cold, as he missed three par putts, each from within 3 feet or less.
When DeChambeau birdied the par-5 10th while Herbert raced for par, the Crushers captain led by one. But Herbert’s 9-foot putt saved on that hole was a positive sign. He then birdied the par-4 12th after driving the green, made an eagle at the par-5 13th with a 33-foot putt and holed a 10-foot birdie putt on the celebratory 14th hole to restore his multi-shot lead. He added another late birdie at the par-3 17th.
“It wasn’t my best stuff there,” Herbert said, “but the last nine I hung around long enough to see my chance to take the lead back come to fruition.”
DeChambeau, meanwhile, played the final eight holes even, negating two birdies and two bogeys. That leaves him with plenty of work to do as he seeks his third individual victory of the season while hoping to catch points leader Rahm in the season-long individual championship race.
“I have to focus on playing really good golf, not making too many mistakes,” he said. “I overdid it on the back nine today.”
He can’t afford to buy more this weekend. Meanwhile, Herbert is happy to be in the final group with DeChambeau for the second round in a row.
“I actually really enjoy it,” Herbert said. “I’m happy to play with him again tomorrow. He’s had great support. There’s a lot of fans watching our band, which was really great. It’s a privilege to have him here because he gets a lot of looks and a lot of fans, which we love to do all over the world.”
TOP OF RANKINGS
Individual top 10
1 (-17) – Lucas Herbert, Ripper (61-66)
2 (-13) – Bryson DeChambeau, Crushers (64-67)
3 (-10) – Tyrrell Hatton, Legion XIII (66-68)
T4 (-9) – Byeong Hun An, Korean (67-68); Harold Varner III, OKGC (66-69)
T6 (-8) – Cameron Smith, Ripper (69-67); Peter Uihlein, Range Goats (69-67); Dean Burmester, Southern Guards (70-66)
T10 (-7) – Caleb Surratt, Legion XIII (68-69); Anirban Lahiri, Crushers (68-69)
Top 3 by team
1 (-37) – Ripper GC (Herbert 61-66, Leishman 68-68; Smith 69-67; Smyth 71-69; Rd. 2 score: -18)
2 (-28) – Crushers GC (DeChambeau 64-67, Howell III 68-70, Lahiri 68-69, Casey 73-69; Rd. 2 score: -13)
3 (-19) – Legion XIII (Hatton 66-68, Surratt 68-69, McKibbin 73-70, Rahm 73-70; Rd. 2 score: -11)
ROUND 2 NOTES
RIPPERS CARROT CUTTING CONTEST: Powered by tournament leader Lucas Herbert, the all-Australian Ripper GC has a cumulative 37 under and is nine shots ahead of Crushers GC. Perhaps some of the credit should be given to the inventive way in which the team relaxes after rounds.
All four players – Herbert, captain Cameron Smith and teammates Marc Leishman and Travis Smyth (who replaces the injured Elvis Smylie) – remain in the same house. The same goes for caddies and some team staff members. After Thursday’s first round, the group played a game created by Smith in which each person cut a carrot in half. The winner is the one who manages to cut two pieces closest to each other.
“Very competitive,” Herbert said Friday. “…I don’t know what he has planned tonight, some sort of knockout round robin extravaganza. I’m sure it will entertain us and take our minds off golf.”
Herbert said these kinds of fun activities are beneficial, especially in his leadership position. Without LIV Golf’s team concept, he would have to face the pressure alone.
“One of the most fun things about the team golf aspect,” he said. “I think our team is one of the best. We have one of the best camaraderie in this kind of thing. Yeah, I feel pretty lucky to be a part of it.”
DECHAMBEAU FIELD CONNECTION: Bryson DeChambeau still has plenty of points to make up to put some pressure on Jon Rahm, who is currently leading the season-long points race as he seeks a third straight individual championship.
But with DeChambeau in solo second at 13 under while Rahm is tied for 31st at 1 under, DeChambeau can at least keep Rahm from clinching the title this week.
“I am sure he will be a force to be reckoned with in the coming days and in New Jersey as well. [in Bedminster at LIV Golf New York, the league’s next tournament]” DeChambeau said.
Rahm and DeChambeau each have two wins this season, but Rahm’s consistency has provided a nice edge. Even if DeChambeau fails to catch him, a second place finish in the final standings would be his best finish in the race of the season.
“I feel like I had my best year here this year,” DeChambeau said. “For some reason I feel like I left a lot of things out there, which is kind of interesting to me but very grateful to have had a great year here. … I feel really comfortable with my game, as comfortable as I’ve been in a long time.”
HATTON BIRDIE WALK: For the second straight round, Tyrrell Hatton birdied the par-3 ninth. On Thursday, it was with a 10-foot putt. On Friday, he was at 5 feet – and he entered it. By accident, of course.
“I thought I missed it,” he said. “I’ve been struggling with left-to-right putts this week. I feel like the ball is sliding off the face, so I’m not really hitting the line I want. I’m a little surprised to see this one go in.”
Two years ago, Hatton was second at JCB behind his Legion XIII captain, Rahm. He enters this weekend solo third at 10 under, seven strokes behind Herbert. He is seeking his second consecutive LIV Golf title (and third overall), after winning last month in Andalusia.
“You can see how good the first two days were,” said Hatton, who shot a 4-under 68 on Friday. “It should be a bit windier tomorrow, but I still imagine the score will be pretty good. Hopefully I can play well and give myself some opportunities.”
CASEY RETURNS WITH BIG DRIVES: DeChambeau’s Crushers GC teammate Paul Casey returned to action this week after missing the previous two tournaments due to injury. On Friday, Casey led the pack in average driving distance. “Really?” » DeChambeau said with a laugh. “How many cart paths did he travel? I don’t know what he was doing during those nine weeks off.”
He then added seriously: “He was always sneaky for a long time. It’s funny, he has this low, piercing ball. He’s such a great player. I’m so happy to have him back in the team. I need him. We need him for the last few weeks of this year.”
LEADERS IN STATISTICS
ROUND 2
Driving distance: Paul Casey, averaged 312.1 yards.
Longest drive: Dustin Johnson, 339.8 yards (8th hole). Officially measured drives performed only on holes 8 and 10.
Driving precision: Byeong Hun An, 85.71% (12 out of 14)
Greens in the regulations: Byeong Hun An, Carlos Ortiz, Thomas Pieters, Scott Vincent, Paul Casey, Jon Rahm, Cameron Tringale, Sebastian Munoz, 77.78% (14 of 18)
Jamming: Charl Schwartzel (8 out of 8), Martin Kaymer (5 out of 5), Sebastian Munoz (4 out of 4), 100%
Fewest putts: Peter Uihlein, 24 years old
Bogey-free rounds: Charl Schwartzel (69 years old), Sebastian Munoz (70 years old), Martin Kaymer (70 years old)
OVERALL
Driving distance: Dustin Johnson, 305.3 yard average.
Longest drive: David Puig, 339.8 yards (10th hole, Rd. 1). Officially measured drives performed only on holes 8 and 10.
Driving precision: David Puig, 78.57% (22 out of 28)
Greens in the regulations: Caleb Surratt, 83.33% (30 of 36)
Jamming: Charles Howell III (9 out of 10), 90%
Fewest putts: Peter Uihlein, 48 years old
This piece is courtesy of Mike McAllister in partnership with LIVGolf.
