Bryson DeChambeau carded two eagles on Saturday to maintain a two-shot lead at the inaugural LIV Golf event in South Africa.
Southern Guards, the home favorites, lead the team event entering the final round at Steyn City in Johannesburg.
DeChambeau posted a 7-under-par 64 in the third round to move to 21 under, two shots ahead of South Africa’s Branden Grace. He eagled the par-4 fifth hole and the par-5 10th and added birdies at Nos. 1, 4 and 18 in a bogey-free round at the Jack Nicklaus-designed course.
DeChambeau, 32, remains red hot after winning the LIV Golf Singapore event last week for his fourth career individual title on the circuit.
Grace also turned in a 64 thanks to an eagle on the par-5 fourth hole plus six birdies and one bogey. The Southern Guards member birdied the last two holes to open a one-stroke lead over Mexico’s Abraham Ancer (64 on Saturday) and Spain’s Jon Rahm (64), who sit at 18-under.
Belgium’s Thomas Detry (63), South Africa’s Dean Burmester (65) and Spain’s David Puig (66) are tied for fifth place at 17 under. Tied for eighth at 16 under are Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz (65) and Charles Howell III (66).
Grace’s and Burmester’s Southern Guards teammates Louis Oosthuizen (64) and Charl Schwartzel (65) are part of a six-way tie for 18th at 12 under.
“What a day. All four boys had a good day,” Burmester said. “It looks like all four of us scored well. I don’t know what the total is, but Gracey just birdied 17. For me, honestly, I’m so proud of all the guys, and for us to be in the hunt for the team thing is incredible.”
Oosthuizen said the “rowdy boys” in the gallery have added to the excitement of chasing the team title on home soil.
“We’re feeding off the energy at the moment,” he said. “I mean, we’re playing — me and Charl were playing so-so, and today we really felt the energy, and obviously Dean and Branden are playing well, so I think we can just go tomorrow and pull this thing through.”
Fireballs GC and Torque GC are tied for second in the team competition at 58 under, two behind Southern Guards.
The first LIV Golf event held on the African continent has sold out and is expected to draw more than 100,000 fans over the course of the four-day tournament.
Phil Mickelson, playing in his first LIV event of the season due to a family health matter, finished the third round at 7-under 64. He played the first two rounds at even par, recording a 75 and a 67.
–Field Level Media
