Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

Brendan Steele recorded an 8-under 64 to surge into the lead following two rounds at LIV Golf Adelaide in Australia on Saturday.

Steele mixed nine birdies and a bogey in the round and, at 14-under for the tournament, takes a one-shot lead over Danny Lee of New Zealand (67 on Saturday) and two-stroke lead over Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz (68) and Mito Pereira of Chile (67) into Sunday’s final round at The Grange Golf Club.

In all, 14 players stand within five shots of the lead, and Steele said he’ll need to do much more to win.

“It’s going to be tough because there’s a lot of birdies out there, obviously,” Steele said. “It’s kind of a race to 20-under par I think at this point.”

In the hunt at 11-under are Patrick Reed (66), Cameron Tringale (65), South African Dean Burmester (66) and Australian Cam Smith (65).

First-round leader Jinichiro Kozuma of Japan followed his opening-round 63 with a 71 to sit at 10-under, joined by Matt Jones of Australia (68), Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa (66) and Joaquin Niemann of Chile (67).

Lee said he saw positives to build from on Sunday.

“Other than that double (bogey) on 5, played pretty good. Hitting the ball really nicely,” he said after his round. “I was a little bit off with the driver today. Other than that, I can’t complain. Putted well again today, which is nice. Birdie-birdie finish on the day is always nice, and it gets me a lot of positive momentum going towards the last round.”

The last round also is likely to feature a spirited team competition.

Steele is seeking his first LIV individual win, as well as a maiden victory for his team, captain Phil Mickelson’s HyFlyers GC. At 34-under, the HyFlyers are a stroke behind Niemann’s Torque GC and tied with Lee’s Iron Heads GC for second.

In fourth place at 33-under are Smith’s Ripper GC, with the Australian crowd behind them.

Steele said the HyFlyers are aware of the opportunity they have to win their first team title.

“We know everything that’s going on. We’ve talked about it,” he said. “We were talking about it flying over here. Phil was like, this is the time, guys. This is our trip.”

But they will have to advance through a crowded field to win. That includes Ripper GC, headlined by Smith and Jones.

“I think having support like we have this week is different to what we have 51 other weekends out of the year. It’s a very different feeling,” Smith said. “I think the support is amazing, but there’s also a lot of pressure put on you, as well, to perform.

“I think not only us but probably every other Australian wants us to do well and wants us to win tomorrow. That’s a lot of weight on the shoulders as it is, but yeah, we’re ready for tomorrow.”

–Field Level Media