Cameron Smith and his Ripper GC are one among 4 groups this LIV Golf League season that has but to succeed in the rostrum. However the Australian lineup has a chance to finish that drought at LIV Golf London – and even perhaps seize their first-ever crew trophy.
The Rippers enter the ultimate spherical at Centurion Membership with a one-shot lead over the defending London champion Stinger GC, whereas Smith has a three-shot lead on the person leaderboard. Smith already has one particular person win in his LIV profession, successful final season in Chicago. He would like to have firm on the rostrum and sweep each titles on Sunday.
“In our group chat, we’ve mentioned a number of occasions that we have to rise up there and spray champagne over one another,” Smith mentioned after his 4-under 67 moved him to 12 beneath. “I believe that will be a reasonably enjoyable expertise. Nonetheless work to be finished on the person facet, however it will be good to see us on the prime of the leaderboard on the crew facet, as effectively.”
Smith and teammate Marc Leishman have dealt with the majority of the contributions by way of the primary two days, with Leishman among the many group of pursuers tied for second at 9 beneath after taking pictures 69 on Saturday. Matt Jones contributed a 67 to match Smith’s spherical, and the fourth member of the crew, Jediah Morgan, shot a 69 to match Leishman’s counting rating.
“If we are able to take care of the person, play in addition to we are able to, all shoot good scores, the crew stuff will care for itself,” Leishman mentioned, who will play together with his captain in the identical group for the second consecutive spherical. “Hopefully I could make a little bit of a run at Cam tomorrow and make issues attention-grabbing.”
Leishman could have firm in attempting to chase down Smith, who will defend his Open Championship title in two weeks at Royal Liverpool. Additionally at 9 beneath is Stingers GC Captain Louis Oosthuizen and RangeGoats GC’s Thomas Pieters, with 4Aces GC’s Patrick Reed (-8) and Majesticks GC Co-Captain Henrik Stenson (-7) additionally lurking.
The crew competitors definitely guarantees to be attention-grabbing within the ultimate spherical. The South African Stingers began the day eight pictures off the lead however rapidly moved up the leaderboard Saturday, with Oosthuizen and defending London particular person champion Charl Schwartzel off to sizzling begins.
Oosthuizen was 7 beneath by way of his first 10 holes whereas Schwartzel was 7 beneath by way of his first 11. Dean Burmester was additionally 5 beneath by way of his first 14. When Oosthuizen eagled the par-5 thirteenth, the Stingers had overtaken the Rippers for the lead.
“I went by way of a stretch there the place I made a couple of birdies and an eagle, after which Dean and Charl in all probability needed to undergo the identical,” Oosthuizen mentioned. “It’s unbelievable how the leaderboards can change out right here with three scores to depend.”
Late within the day, the leaderboard flipped once more, because the Stingers completed on harder holes whereas Smith and Leishman had extra scoring alternatives. Smith’s birdie on the par-5 18th to complete his spherical not solely added to his particular person lead however gave the Rippers the 36-hole crew lead.
“It’s good to see Leish and I on the prime of the leaderboard,” Smith mentioned. “I do know the opposite two boys are attempting their hardest on the market to get their crew rating up, and hopefully we are able to go on the market tomorrow and present them what we’re actually fabricated from.”
TEAM COUNTING SCORES
Listed here are the standings and counting scores for Saturday’s second spherical of the crew competitors at LIV Golf London. The three greatest scores from every crew depend in each spherical for his or her complete crew rating. The crew with the bottom cumulative rating after three rounds wins the crew title.
1. RIPPER GC (-23): Cameron Smith 67, Matt Jones 67, Marc Leishman 69 (Rd. 2 rating: -10)
2. STINGER GC (-22): Louis Oosthuizen 63, Charl Schwartzel 66, Dean Burmester 67 (Rd. 2 rating: -17)
T3. 4ACES GC (-19): Patrick Reed 64, Dustin Johnson 65, Peter Uihlein 68 (Rd. 2 rating: -16)
T3. RANGEGOATS GC (-19): Harold Varner III 66, Thomas Pieters 67, Bubba Watson 71 (Rd. 2 rating: -9)
T5. MAJESTICKS GC (-16): Henrik Stenson 66, Laurie Canter 69, Lee Westwood 70 (Rd. 2 rating: -8)
T5. CRUSHERS GC (-16): Paul Casey 65, Bryson DeChambeau 67, Anirban Lahiri 69 (Rd. 2 rating: -12)
7. SMASH GC (-14): Chase Koepka 66, Brooks Koepka 66, Jason Kokrak 69 (Rd. 2 rating: -12)
8. HYFLYERS GC (-13): Brendan Steele 67, Cameron Tringale 69, James Piot 70 (Rd. 2 rating: -7)
9. CLEEKS GC (-12): Graeme McDowell 65, Martin Kaymer 68, Richard Bland 70 (Rd. 2 rating: -10)
10. FIREBALLS GC (-11): Abraham Ancer 68, Eugenio Chacarra 69, Carlos Ortiz 69 (Rd. 2 rating: -7)
11. IRON HEADS GC (-9): Kevin Na 64, Danny Lee 67, Scott Vincent 67 (Rd. 2 rating: -15)
12. TORQUE GC (-7): David Puig 68, Joaquin Niemann 69, Sebastian Munoz 69 (Rd. 2 rating: -7)
