Joaquin Niemann maintained his spectacular kind to take a two-shot lead into the ultimate spherical of the LIV Golf League occasion in Jeddah, the place Anthony Kim continued to battle on his return to professional golf.
Niemann secured an invitation to The Masters after three top-five finishes on the DP World Tour, together with a victory on the ISPS Handa Australian Open, with the Chilean additionally taking third at an Worldwide Sequence occasion in Oman and successful the LIV Golf League season opener in Mayakoba.
The 26-year-old adopted an opening-round 63 with a bogey-free 64 on Saturday in King Abdullah Financial Metropolis, posting six birdies to maneuver to 13 below and two away from former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel.
Jason Kokrak shares third spot with Louis Oosthuizen, who gained twice on the DP World Tour earlier this season, with Masters champion Jon Rahm and fellow in a single day co-leader Adrian Meronk among the many group tied-fifth.
How Niemann moved forward in Jeddah
Niemann – starting on the second – opened with six straight pars earlier than following birdies on the eighth and tenth by choosing up a shot on the par-four twelfth after which including three extra in a four-hole stretch from the fifteenth.
“I’m still a long, long way away from the position where I want to be,” Niemann mentioned. “I just go from there, and hopefully tomorrow have a great day, too, see my shots, stay calm and just do the same.”
Schwartzel combined 5 birdies with a lone bogey to card a second-round 66, whereas Kokrak made seven birdies in 9 holes throughout his eight-under 62 and Oosthuizen carded a bogey-free 66 to additionally get to 10 below.
Rahm and Meronk posted second-round 69s to fall 4 again behind alongside Lucas Herbert and Abraham Ancer, who rolled in six consecutive birdies, with Branden Grace and Kevin Na each 5 behind.
Kim all-time low after extra struggles
Kim, competing after being away from golf for practically 12 years, began the second spherical at Royal Greens with three bogeys and a double bogey in his first 4 holes.
The American birdied the primary and recovered from bogeying the third to par every of his final 11 holes, though is 25 photographs off the lead and 9 strokes worse than second-bottom Ian Poulter after a second successive 76.
Within the group contest, the all-South African Stinger GC maintain a seven-stroke benefit over Brooks Koepka’s Smash GC and Rahm’s Legion XIII.
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