Jun 7, 2025; Gainesville, Virginia, USA; Anirban Lahiri of group Crushers GC hits a tee shot on the fifteenth gap in the course of the second spherical of the LIV Golf Virginia golf match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Membership. Obligatory Credit score: Geoff Burke-Imagn Photographs
Pursuing his first particular person win with LIV Golf, Anirban Lahiri of India performed a bogey-free second spherical at 7-under 64 on Saturday and holds a two-shot lead at LIV Golf Virginia on Saturday in Gainesville, Va.
A runner-up 4 instances with LIV Golf, Lahiri sank seven birdies and made a 39-foot par putt on No. 16, then completed robust with a par on No. 18 after touchdown within the tough. On the 18th, he needed to stand up and down from a distance of greater than 100 yards.
“Yeah, these felt like birdies as properly,” Lahiri mentioned of his spectacular end to the day at Robert Trent Jones Golf Membership. “I feel the primary 15 holes was about as strong as I might have performed. I missed just a few putts and I nonetheless made numerous birdies.
“Then 16, I used to be making an attempt to hit like an in-between 9-iron and I attempted to compress it a bit bit an excessive amount of, and everybody else noticed what occurred. It was good to make that putt.”
Veterans Bubba Watson, Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell — who’re additionally chasing their first particular person LIV Golf win — are at 9-under par getting into Sunday’s closing spherical, simply two photographs behind the chief.
“It is at all times good to be near the lead, have an opportunity on the final day,” Watson mentioned. “Wanting ahead to it. Wanting ahead to the problem of this golf course. … You hit your driver good, you hit your irons in the fitting spots, you could have an opportunity to play this golf course.”
RangeGoats GC captain Watson birdied Nos. 17 and 18, then closed his spherical with pars on Nos. 1 and a couple of en path to a 6-under 65. Kaymer, who shared the first-round lead with Crushers GC captain Bryson DeChambeau, shot a 4-under 67 to maintain himself firmly within the operating.
In the meantime, McDowell notched three straight birdies on Nos. 15-17 to place himself in competition with a 5-under 66. He’ll play the ultimate spherical with Lahiri and Watson.
“I am excited to be up there (on the leaderboard),” McDowell mentioned. “I am excited to offer myself in all probability my first alternative on LIV. I’ve underachieved tremendously to date in my profession out right here. Definitely count on extra of myself.”
Joaquin Niemann, DeChambeau and Jon Rahm, the highest three within the particular person standings, are tied for fifth at 7 beneath, 4 photographs off the highest spot.
On the group entrance, Lahiri and DeChambeau have the Crushers at 21 beneath par, one up on McDowell’s Smash GC squad and properly forward of the opposite foursomes.
–Subject Stage Media