Tom McKibbin is on course for another massive payday after helping Legion XIII head into the final round of LIV Golf Adelaide just a shot off the lead.
The Holywood starlet – winner of over $1m in his first start in Saudi Arabia – made an eagle, two birdies and three bogeys in a one-under 71 at The Grange to share ninth place on three-under, six shots off the lead.
His round also helped his teammates Jon Rahm (69), Caleb Surrat (73), and Tyrrell Hatton (72) share second place with Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs on nine-under, just one stroke behind the Majesticks in the race for the $3m team prize.
The Majesticks’ Sam Horsfield shot a three under par 69 to claim a share of the individual lead with Torque’s Carlos Ortiz (68) and the Fireballs’ Abraham Ancer (67) on nine-under, three ahead of Torque’s Joaquín Niemann in the battle for the $4m individual prize.
Rahm is lurking in fifth place, just four shots off the lead, while Graeme McDowell’s 75 left him tied 45th in the 54-man field on four-over.
On the HotelPlanner Tour, Royal Dublin’s Max Kennedy goes into the final round of the NTT DATA Pro-Am tied for 14th at Fancourt Golf Estate.
The Dubliner (23) made four birdies in a two-under 70 on the Outeniqua Course and goes into the final day 14 strokes behind South Africa’s Wilco Neinaber on 11-under.
“It was definitely different to the first two rounds,” said Kennedy, who is on course to make his first cheque of the season as he chases promotion to the DP World Tour.
“Today, I didn’t hit my irons too well. I hit them a lot better for the first two days, but I was able to get it up and down in a lot of places and scrap out a good score.”
The former University of Louisville star missed out on his DP World Tour card by one stroke at last year’s Qualifying School and is looking to gain experience on the second-tier tour and battle for one of 20 cards on the main tour next season.
“I saw it as a blessing in disguise, if anything, because going straight to the tour is a big leap from amateur golf,” Kennedy said of Q-School.
“To have one year on the Challenge Tour and then dip my toes in at a couple of the events on the DP World Tour will be good, and I think it’ll be a good stepping stone into the future.
“I want to get my DP World Tour card, and the main goal this year is to finish number one in the ranking and move towards that goal.”
Nienaber will take a six-shot lead into the final round as he looks to win the event for the second time.
The South African, who entered the third round with a three-shot lead, posted a six under par 66 on the Montagu Course to move to 25 under and six clear of countryman Jacques Blaauw.
Jonathan Caldwell shares 31st on nine-under after carding a five-under 68 at The Links, while Dermot McElroy made the six-under cut on the mark after a 72 at the same venue.
On the Ladies European Tour, Jeeno Thitikul secured her fifth title after winning the 2025 PIF Saudi Ladies International by four strokes.
The Thai star, number four in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, closed with a three-under 69 to win on 16-under from Korea’s Somi Lee.
“It means a lot to win, and it’s a really nice start for my 2025 season,” said Thitikul, who won the 2021 LET Race to Costa del Sol and Rookie of the Year titles.
“I think everyone will be proud, especially my team out there. They know how hard we work, so it’s paid off.”