David Puig of Spain dazzled the crowd with a 6-under 66 on Saturday, securing a four-way tie for the lead heading into the final round of LIV Golf Houston.
Puig, a 22-year-old standout from Arizona State, put himself in contention alongside Carlos Ortiz, who carded a 68, Adrian Meronk with a 69, and Paul Casey who shot a 67. All four golfers stand at 10-under 134 and are vying for their first LIV Golf title.
Ortiz, the 2018 Houston Open champion, achieved his only PGA Tour victory at a different venue than the Golf Club of Houston. Meanwhile, Paul Casey reminisced about his Houston Open win at this very course, albeit under different conditions. ‘This golf course has teeth, and just because I’ve won doesn’t change anything,’ Casey reflected.
Patrick Reed, a Houston resident, finished the day just one shot behind the leaders after posting a 68. In other highlights, Martin Kaymer, the last U.S. Open champion at Pinehurst, struggled with a double bogey on his fourth hole and ended up three shots off the lead after shooting a 72.
Jon Rahm, who withdrew from the event ahead of the U.S. Open, was notably absent from the leaderboard. Puig, aiming for a spot in the Olympics, led qualifiers in San Francisco and is one of the LIV players set to compete in the U.S. Open next week. It’s worth noting that success in LIV Golf events won’t directly impact Olympic qualifications, as these tournaments don’t contribute to world ranking points.
As the final round approaches, the competition is fierce with Puig, Ortiz, Meronk, and Casey all eager to claim their first LIV Golf victory. The stage is set for an exciting conclusion at the Golf Club of Houston.
Source: Espn
