Lucas Herbert will switch into LIV Golf mode after pushing up the Australian PGA Championship leaderboard, admitting its reduction to a 54-hole shootout will suit him.
The Victorian, fresh off a win at last week’s NSW Open, wasn’t happy despite shooting a five-under 66 on Saturday at Royal Queensland to be two behind clubhouse leader Matthew Southgate (67).
Matias Sachez (70), Ivan Cantero (69) and Cameron Davis (67) were as shot back, one clear of Herbert.
An eagle on seven thanks to a pinpoint approach was the highlight, Herbert otherwise shaking his head at missed putts and “loose” fairway options on a soggy riverside course.
“Feels weird to sit here and complain about shooting five under but here I am,” he said.
“I’m in the tournament, don’t know how far I’ll be behind, but somewhere thereabouts.”
The $2 million tournament has been reduced to a three-round spectacle after torrential rain meant no play was possible on Friday.
It means the top half of the field who make the cut on Saturday will return for an 18-hole shootout for the prize on Sunday.
Herbert partnered Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman and Matt Jones in LIV – which means 54 in Roman numerals – in a nod to the three-day format teams title they won with Ripper GC this year.
“It’s a decent change of mindset in a 54-hole event,” he said.
“You play Thursday and you’re six back and not paying too much attention.
“But all of a sudden you cancel the round and … different story.
“I knew I had to shoot a pretty low one today. It sounds easy but it takes practice to get used to how aggressive you have to be in a three-round event, so there’s probably a little bit of an advantage for us.”
Elvis Smylie’s six-under 65 was good enough for the outright lead but he’s got company on a crowded leaderboard.
Three-time winner Smith birdied three of his first four holes to reach seven-under in his marquee group with Jason Day (four under) and defending champion Min Woo Lee (three under).
Former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy carded a 68 to be five under, while South African 20-year-old Aldrich Potgieter shot to the front.
He burst out of the blocks with birdies on his opening three holes, just missing another birdie putt on the fourth, before a fourth birdie on the fifth hole gave him the outright lead.
