Herbert hanging on in LIV Golf Houston battle

Australia’s Lucas Herbert is three shots off the pace heading into the final round of LIV Golf Houston.

The 28-year-old Victorian, ranked world No.94, followed up his opening 69 with a 68 on Saturday to sit in a tie for eighth at seven under.

Spain’s David Puig had a six-under 66 to join a four-way share of the lead that no longer includes compatriot Jon Rahm.

Rahm withdrew after playing is six holes — all of them pars — because of an infected left foot. He pulled out just five days before the start of the US Open.

The severity of the injury was not immediately known.

Puig, 22, was tied with Carlos Ortiz (68), Adrian Meronk (69) and Paul Casey (67). They were at 10-under 134 and are all vying for their first LIV Golf title. Meronk joined the Saudi-funded league this year.

Ortiz won the Houston Open for his only PGA Tour victory, though that was on a different course than the Golf Club of Houston. Patrick Reed, who lives in Houston, had a 68 and was one shot off the pace.

Puig is among LIV players in the US Open next week. He led qualifiers in San Francisco a week ago, a key spot for him because he is battling for the second spot for Spain in the Olympics.

The LIV Golf event won’t help that cause because the Olympics are based on the world ranking and LIV events do not receive them.

Casey also won the Houston Open on this golf course, though he said it was set up differently then because it was a week before the Masters, and some of the areas around the green were shaved to prepare players for Augusta National.

“But this is no less fierce now, even though we’re a few years on. This golf course has teeth, and just because I’ve won doesn’t change anything,” Casey said.

Martin Kaymer, the last US Open champion at Pinehurst, had a double bogey on his fourth hole and shot 72 to finish three shots behind the leaders.

Cam Smith (69) is a further three adrift at four under, while fellow Aussies Matt Jones (74) and Marc Leishman (75) are both two under and Wade Ormsby (73) one over.

With AAP.