LIV Golf: Going into the final round of the LIV Golf competition in Chicago, world No. 3 Cameron Smith has a two-shot advantage over Dustin Johnson.
On the third and final day of the LIV Golf Invitational Series Chicago, Smith overtook Johnson thanks to a pair of seven-foot birdie putts he made to cap off his four-under 68.
Even though Johnson made it appear simple in the first round, his struggles on Saturday at Rich Harvest Farms caused him to shoot over par for the first time in the 14 rounds he has participated in the Saudi-funded series.
Johnson was fortunate because Smith only had a two-shot lead. Smith gained the lead for the first time with his seven-foot birdie putt on the par-four 17th when he came up just short of the green and had to make an eight-foot par putt.
Johnson’s approach took a hard jump over the green on the par-five 18th, which served as their closing hole. He had a free drop from the bleachers and chipped feebly to eight feet, missing his birdie attempt. On the opposite side of the green, Smith missed a 60-footer by seven feet but managed to nail it for another birdie.
Smith was at 134 for 10-under.
Peter Uihlein, the former US Amateur champion who had the lowest round of the windy day with a 66, will join them in the lead group on Sunday. Uihlein was only three strokes behind going into the last day as a result.
The first LIV Golf Invitational to be held outside of London champion Charl Schwartzel (69) and Laurie Canter (68) were four strokes back. Lee Westwood, Charles Howell III, and Bryson DeChambeau were in the line-up five back.
Smith earned $2.5 million after winning the Open at St. Andrews. The value of a victory on Sunday would be at least $4 million.
“It was tricky out there today,” Smith said. “I got a couple of breaks and DJ didn’t quite make the putts he usually does.”
Prior to making three bogeys in a row over a span of four holes and shooting 74 to finish 12 shots down, Phil Mickelson appeared to have a chance at shooting a round under par.
Mickelson discussed on Friday the necessity of collaboration between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. Players who participated in the Saudi-sponsored series without obtaining a conflicting-event release have been suspended by the PGA Tour.
Johnson’s four-man squad led Smith’s team by one shot in the team competition.
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