Staff WriterRichard T. Lee will take a two-shot lead into Sunday’s final round of LIV Golf Promotions at Black Diamond Ranch after carding a bogey-free six-under-par 64 on Saturday, with Anthony Kim among three players tied for second as he bids to regain full-time status in the league.
The final 18 holes of the 36-hole shootout will decide the top three who earn guaranteed LIV Golf wild-card status for the 2026 season, while the top 10 and ties secure exemption into the Asian Tour’s International Series.
Lee, 35, led the field for the second time this week with another composed 64 and will start the final day in pole position. He has compiled two eagles, 13 birdies and just one bogey in 54 holes across the week, having advanced through both the first and second rounds to reach the weekend finale.
“Honestly, I don’t think it would be comfortable for any player to have a two-shot lead on the last day,” said Lee, who has two eagles, 13 birdies and just one bogey in his 54 competitive holes this week that included advancing out of both the first and second rounds. “I’ll just put my hat on and just play my golf.”
Kim moved into contention with a bogey-free four-under 66 and sits alongside South Africa’s Oliver Bekker and Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond in a share of second.
The 40-year-old — the only American to advance to the weekend — produced his best run on the back nine, making consecutive long birdie putts at the 13th and 14th holes, adding another birdie at the par-five 16th, and then saving par at the last with a 15-footer that circled the cup before dropping.
“I have an opportunity to get one of those spots,” said the 40-year-old Kim, the only American to advance to the weekend. “That’s what I asked for coming into this week and put myself in good position. Now I’ve just got to go finish.”
Kim’s position on Saturday came after a crucial birdie putt on the 18th hole on Friday to make the cut on the number, which kept his hopes alive of returning to LIV Golf next season.
“I knew that if I didn’t make birdie on 18 [Friday] that my chances of playing on LIV next year were gone, and to me that’s a big deal,” Kim said. “I’d like to play at the highest level against the best players. It meant a lot to me.”
Bekker, who played in LIV Golf’s inaugural 2022 London event, is seeking a full-time return four seasons on and admitted he has reflected on past opportunities.
“Thinking back on it now, I had the opportunity to play a few more events, and now I’m like, well, maybe I should have played them,” Bekker said. “The water was a bit rough at that stage and didn’t know what was going to happen, so I played it a bit safe. Luckily, I’ve been given another opportunity this week, and hopefully I can take it.”
Janewattananond, a four-time winner in 2019, said the stakes extend beyond the course.
“It’s a very big prize at the end of the day,” Janewattananond said. “Those three spots up for grabs, it would give me freedom to play wherever I want and security for my family.”
Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard is solo fifth after a three-under 67, with five others at one under in a group still within reach of the top three places.
“Where I am in my career right now,” he said, “it’s probably that or retirement. Yeah, that would mean a lot for sure.”
Despite Lee’s advantage, those in pursuit insisted their focus remains on their own score rather than the leader, even as Lee’s form has been the standard throughout the week.
“We’re not playing for one spot,” said Janewattananond. “I don’t have to worry about him. I just have to worry about myself.”
“He played great today,” added Bjerregaard, playing in the same group as Lee on Saturday. “But I would be happy with any of the other two spots, so that’s fine. I can finish third. I wouldn’t mind.”
Course notes: Kim’s late par save and Lee’s only scare
Kim’s par-saving putt at the 18th briefly threatened to lip out before dropping.
“Nice to see it actually go in as opposed to go out,” Kim said. “But that’s just the way the game goes. Sometimes you have six months where balls are lipping out, and you have six months where the balls are lipping in.
“Hopefully I’ve had enough lip outs now where they’ll start falling my way, and I believe that’s going to happen.”
Lee’s one moment of trouble came at the par-five 16th, where he escaped with par after a wayward tee shot.
“Tried to ride the wind,” Lee said. “It was a slice wind. I was trying to hit a low stinger 3-wood and kind of duffed it and it almost went OB, but luckily it didn’t.”
“I love challenging courses,” he said. “Most of the holes here fit my ball flight.”
Bekker also revealed he has received supportive messages this week from Louis Oosthuizen.
“It’s nice to get a bit of good vibes,” Bekker said. “Looking forward to hopefully playing [against] them next year.”
Round 4 tee times
SUNDAY’S START TIME: Round 4 will begin at 8:40 a.m. ET, with each group starting off the first tee. The eighth and final group consisting of leader Richard T. Lee, along with Anthony Kim and Jazz Janewattananond, tees off at 9:57 a.m.
(For UK readers: 1:40 pm GMT start; final group 2:57 pm GMT.)
