Brooks Koepka carded a 7–under-par 64 on Saturday to seize a three-stroke lead at rain-delayed LIV Golf Singapore.
Koepka is bidding to become the first golfer to record four victories on the LIV circuit. He sits at 12–under 130 for the tournament to lead a quartet of golfers at Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong Course in Singapore.
The five-time major champion followed up his 66 on his 34th birthday on Friday with a bogey-free round. He overcame a four-hour, 45-minute rain delay to hold a lead over Matthew Wolff (65 on Saturday), Adrian Meronk (66) of Poland, Abraham Ancer (67) of Mexico and Thomas Pieters (67) of Belgium.
“I just chilled,” Koepka said. “We were all talking, watching some of the hockey, some of the basketball. That’s what I would do anyway if I was having some chill time anyway. Just worked out, and it was kind of nice to watch some of that.”
Koepka carded birdies on Nos. 5–7 before adding four more over his final six holes.
“You just go about it and you kind of feel it out the first couple of holes and then go from there and see where things are at. Then you kind of get an idea how it’s playing.
“Ball-striking is finally starting to come around, putting starting to heat up a bit. I think I’m just hitting better golf shots, kind of fundamentals and with a bit of swagger. Just pleased with the way I’ve played so far.”
Defending champion Talor Gooch (66), Cameron Tingle (68) and Australians Marc Leishman (67) and Lucas Herbert (67) reside at 8–under.
Gooch admitted that it’s “hard” but “not impossible” to catch Koepka when he has a lead entering the final round of the tournament.
“Out here there’s enough shots that are demanding that if you get a little bit loose, it’s easy to not shoot 3– or 4–under par out here. You’ve got to play some dang good golf. But if you are playing good, as he’s done and as others have done, you can make some birdies and get it going.
“Winning golf tournaments is never easy. We all know that. Hopefully we can make it not easy on him -- hopefully I can make it not easy on him tomorrow.”
First-round leader Sebastian Munoz (70) of Colombia is tied with Martin Kaymer (69) of Germany at 7-under. Australian Cameron Smith (65) leads a group of eight golfers tied at 6-under, while Spaniard Jon Rahm (68) is tied with countryman Sergio Garcia (68) at 5–under.
As for the team scores, Koepka and Gooch have helped Smash GC claim a one-stroke lead over Ripper GC and two-shot edge over RangeGoats GC.