Herbert hangs on in LIV Golf Houston battle

Australian Lucas Herbert is three shots off the pace heading into the final round at LIV Golf Houston.

The 28-year-old Victorian, ranked No. 94 in the world, followed his opening 69 with a 68 on Saturday to move into a tie for eighth at seven under.

Spaniard David Puig carded a six-under 66 to join a group of four leading players that no longer includes his compatriot Jon Rahm.

Rahm withdrew after playing six holes – all pars – due to an infected left foot. He withdrew just five days before the start of the US Open.

The severity of the injury was not immediately known.

Puig, 22, was tied with Carlos Ortiz (68), Adrian Meronk (69) and Paul Casey (67). They were at 10-under 134 and are all in contention for their first LIV Golf title. Meronk joined the Saudi-funded league this year.

Ortiz won the Houston Open for his only PGA Tour victory, although it was on a different course than the Golf Club of Houston. Patrick Reed, who lives in Houston, had a 68 and was one shot off the pace.

Puig is among the LIV players at the US Open next week. He led qualifying in San Francisco a week ago, a key place for him as he fights for Spain’s second place at the Olympics.

The LIV Golf event will not help this cause because the Olympics are based on world rankings and LIV events do not receive them.

Casey also won the Houston Open at that golf course, although he said it was set up differently at the time because it was a week before the Masters and some areas around the green had been shaved to prepare players for Augusta National.

“But it’s not any less fierce now, even though we’re a few years into it. This golf course has some bite, and just because I won doesn’t make any difference,” Casey said.

Martin Kaymer, the last U.S. Open champion at Pinehurst, made a double bogey on his fourth hole and shot 72 to finish three shots behind the leaders.

Cam Smith (69) is still three adrift at four under, while fellow Australians Matt Jones (74) and Marc Leishman (75) are both two under and Wade Ormsby (73) one back.

With PAA.