NEW YORK: Talor Gooch rolled in a birdie bomb at the penultimate hole on Saturday to grab a one-stroke lead over Joaquin Niemann of Chile heading into the final round of the LIV Golf Invitational Boston.
America’s Gooch, who had top-10 finishes in the first three events of the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series, had six birdies and a bogey in his five-under par 65 at International Golf Club and led the 48-man field on 12-under.
Niemann, one of six new recruits for this week’s tournament — a group led by second-ranked British Open champion Cameron Smith — also had six birdies and a bogey in a 65 that put him 11-under.
“It was an unbelievable round,” said Niemann, who said Friday he had “a blast” playing his debut round in the series that promises “Golf, but louder” for what it insists will be a new wave of fans.
The upstart circuit has plunged the golf world into turmoil, with the established US PGA Tour and DP World Tour scrambling to prevent their star players from jumping ship to a circuit that offers massive purses of $25 million for it’s 54-hole events as well as reported signing bonuses for big-name players.
The signing of Australia’s Smith earlier this week was the biggest coup so far for the series.
Smith, one off the lead to start Saturday’s round, fired a one-under par 69 that featured a double bogey and two bogeys.
But the 29-year-old Aussie closed on a high note with an eagle at the 18th, set up by a second shot over a stand of trees straight toward the flag.
His seven-under total had him tied for eighth, five shots off the lead going into the final round.
Gooch used a methodical approach as he shook off an opening bogey to work his way to the lead.
“Out here it’s about hitting the fairways,” Gooch said. “I know for me I’m going to score better from the fairways. If that means laying back, that’s what I’m going to do.”
Gooch will be vying to become the first US winner of a LIV Golf event. Former world number one Dustin Johnson was also poised to strike for that title after a seven-under par 63 that put him third on 10-under.
Gooch grabs LIV Golf Boston lead over newcomer Niemann
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Gooch grabs LIV Golf Boston lead over newcomer Niemann
- The American golfer will be vying to become the first US winner of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series
- The upstart circuit has plunged the golf world into turmoil, with the established US PGA Tour and DP World Tour scrambling to prevent their star players from jumping ship
Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia nears finish as Stage 12 heads to Yanbu
YANBU: Stage 12 of the Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia concluded on Friday. It followed a demanding route from Al-Henakiyah to Yanbu, during which competitors covered a total of 720 kilometers, including 311 kilometers in the timed special stage, as the rally edged closer to its final showdown.
In the Ultimate category, Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah of Dacia Sandriders won the stage in a time of three hours, 21 minutes and 52 seconds — a minute and four seconds ahead of American driver Mitch Guthrie of Ford Racing, who was just 21 seconds ahead of Australia’s Toby Price of Toyota Gazoo Racing in third.
Emirati driver Sheikh Khalid Al-Qasimi of Team SVR completed the stage 31 minutes and 38 seconds off the lead, while his teammate Khalid Al-Jafla crossed the line one hour, 11 minutes and 23 seconds behind the stage winner.
In the Bikes category, American rider Ricky Brabec of Energy Honda took first place after completing the stage in 3:19:01. Argentina’s Luciano Benavides of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing came second with a time of 3:22:44, while Brabec’s Spanish teammate Tosha Schareina came third, finishing 12 minutes and 58 seconds off the lead.
In the Challenger category, Argentina’s Kevin Benavides of Odyssey Academy claimed his stage victory with a time of 3:44:52. His Saudi teammate Dania Akeel was second with a time of 3:47:07, and his fellow Argentinian David Zille of BBR Motorsport placed third, three minutes and 37 seconds behind Benavides.
The SSV category also delivered a close finish, with Argentina’s Jeremias Gonzalez Ferioli of Can-Am Factory Team LATAM first across the finish line in 3:51:36 — six minutes and 55 seconds ahead of Portugal’s Joao Monteiro of Can-Am Factory Team and seven minutes, 39 seconds ahead of Monteiro’s American teammate Hunter Miller in third.
The Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia concludes on Saturday, Jan. 17, with its thirteenth stage, which spans a total of 138 kilometers, including a timed special stage of 105 kilometers.
