Marc Leishman leads Sergio Garcia at LIV Golf Tucson by two shots heading into final round | Golf News

Marc Leishman opened with an eagle as he carded five in 66 to lead in 11 in; Sergio Garcia shot a 65 that could have been a little better if not for missing a two-foot par putt on the 16th; Garcia’s Fireballs hold a one-shot lead in the team competition

Marc Leishman leads on 11 heading into the final round at LIV Golf Tucson

Marc Leishman holds a two-shot lead over Sergio Garcia heading into the third and final round of LIV Gold Tucson.

Leishman opened there with an eagle and held together in the middle of his round for five in 66. The Australian dropped only one shot at the Gallery Golf Club and sent one birdie last on the par-five 17th to reach 11-under.

“I had a really hot start, then it cooled off on the back nine,” Leishman said. “But I won’t let him get away from me.”

Garcia, whose last victory anywhere in Mississippi more than two years ago, shot 65 that could have been a little better if not for missing a two-foot par putt on the 16th hole. He at least managed to finish with a birdie at the final hole on the 17th.

Garcia’s team, the Fireballs, held the lead in the team competition. “We are right there. We need another good day tomorrow,” said Garcia.

Sergio Garcia is two shots off the lead going into the final round

Louis Oosthuizen is in a group of four players in the bottom eight, although none have been as tempting at the end of the round as South Africa.

Finishing on the par-four 18th, Oosthuizen’s approach landed a few feet short of the flag and hit the pin, spinning back off the front fake into the fairway. Pitches for birdie lead to the pin and spun in and out of the cup.

At that, he turned around and covered his face. He made par for 68.

“It pitched exactly where I wanted to, hit the pin and off the green. They looked with a chip. I thought I chipped in,” Oosthuizen said. “I stood over the putt thinking, You better make this or it will end badly.'”

He was joined at eight under by Charles Howell III (65), Brendan Steele (65) and Cameron Tringale (66), who had never won on the PGA Tour before joining LIV Golf last season.

Phil Mickelson had a bogey-free round, making four birdies in eight holes of a 67. He is tied for 10th, six shots off the lead. The team, including Steele, was one shot behind Garcia’s team.

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