Lucas Herbert couldn’t quite “make yesterday happen again today,” but his six-under-par 66 in the second round was still good enough for a four-shot lead at the LIV Golf UK tournament in Rocester.\u00a0<\/p>\n
By his own recent lofty standards, the Australian had a rollercoaster round on Friday (Saturday AEST), even after making seven birdies and an eagle.<\/p>\n
He was off to a nervous start when he made four birdies and three bogeys on the front nine, before solidifying with three birdies and an eagle as he stormed home.<\/p>\n
It was unlike Thursday when he made nine birdies and an eagle in a bogey-free 61 that broke the course record.<\/p>\n
“I feel like \u2060I made probably a similar amount of birdies to yesterday, I just couldn’t \u200cget the \u200bmomentum going by making bogeys thrown in there,” Herbert said.<\/p>\n
“It was not my best stuff out there, but that back nine kind \u200bof hung around long \u200cenough to see my chance to take the lead again come to fruition. So I just try to keep perspective on it. I still played decent.” \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udde3\ufe0f Immediate reaction from LIV Golf UK presented by JCB leader, Lucas Herbert<\/p>\n
QUESTION: I’m with the man who seemed to just keep the momentum going. Herby, you got off to a bit of a shaky start. Can you maybe give us a bit of insight as to what was going through your mind after\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/dtgH90tYLM<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) July 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Herbert’s 66 was still the joint best round of the day and after his career-best major finish at The Open, where he tied for sixth, he has every right to believe another LIV win is on the cards following his triumph in Virginia in May.<\/p>\n His closest challenger is Bryson DeChambeau, whom he played with on Friday and will be paired with on Saturday after the American shot 67.<\/p>\n “It was great playing with Bryson today,” Herbert said. “You kind of expect him to either hit \u200ca good shot \u200cor make every putt, \u2060and it kind of keeps you on your own game; just keeps you that little \u200bbit sharp on your own game, a little bit better.”<\/p>\n DeChambeau appears to have overcome his theatrics at The Open, where he was penalised two shots for a rules infringement and even threatened to give the weekend a miss as a result.<\/p>\n Speaking for the first time since The Open, DeChambeau admitted he could have contended for victory had it not been \u200cfor the penalty and a poor performance on one hole.<\/p>\n “It was a good fight. I wish I would have given it more on Saturday and Sunday,” he said.<\/p>\n “Felt like I could \u200bhave. Besides \u200bthe fifth hole and being \u200bthree-over on that hole and then \u200cthe 11th hole [triple bogey in the final round], that’s six shots.<\/p>\n “That’s tied for the lead right there. That’s two holes and I’m right there with the Claret Jug.”<\/p>\n Right now, however, he has Herbert in his sights.<\/p>\n “I’ve got to \u200cfocus on playing some really good golf, not making too many mistakes out there,” said DeChambeau, who is second in the LIV season standings.<\/p>\n “Shoulda, coulda, woulda, right? We all know how that goes. It is what it is, four shots back and 36 holes of golf.”<\/p>\n Australia’s Cameron Smith (67) and Marc Leishman (68) are tied sixth at eight-under.<\/p>\n Their good scoring gives Ripper a nine-stroke advantage over Crushers GC in the team competition, allowing the Australians to focus on their carrot-cutting competition away from the course.<\/p>\n \ud83d\ude02 We need to know who wins the @rippergc_<\/a> carrot cutting competition<\/p>\n HERBERT: The boys have been watching the darts the last couple nights, and then there was a very competitive carrot cutting competition last night, which sounds like we might be having again tonight. So\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/ujBV1ygCdT<\/a><\/p>\n