Jon Rahm of Spain fired a bogey-free, 7-under-par 64 to take a one-stroke lead after two rounds of LIV Golf Chicago on Saturday at Bolingbrook (Ill.) Golf Club.
Rahm started his round on the fourth hole and sank six birdies, including the last hole to fend off countryman Sergio Garcia, who is one shot back after a second-round 65.
"I felt like I did everything I needed to do right, committed to the shots that I needed to, and then executed really, really well," Rahm said. "Didn't miss a lot of fairways. That's a great key around here. Yeah, I think it wasn't until 1, which was my 16th, the only fairway I had missed was 14, and it was barely in the first cut."
Brooks Koepka, who shot a sizzling 62 to lead after the first round, is alone in third – two strokes back – after shooting 73 on Saturday. Poland's Adrian Meronk (65 on Saturday), Great Britain's Ian Poulter (68) and Chile's Joaquin Niemann (68) are three back in a tie for fourth.
Rahm and Niemann are duking it out for the 2024 LIV title. Rahm, in his first year with LIV, entered Chicago with a narrow 2.97-point edge on Niemann in the season standings.
"Well, he did finish very strong, so as it comes to that, it's only a three-shot lead," Rahm said of Niemann, whom he played with the first two rounds but won't on Sunday. "But at the end of the day, there's still a championship at stake this week, and I would like to get my second LIV win.
"I feel like it would have been nice to have the both of us in the third round to be together, but again, being at least temporarily in the lead right now by myself, the goal is to win the championship. If I can do that, the rest takes care of itself."
As for Garcia, he notched five birdies on Saturday and continues to thrive on difficult and firm golf courses.
"I've always enjoyed those conditions," he said. "I feel like when it's playing tough and hopefully I can let my ball-striking do most of the work, it usually helps me.
"But don't get me wrong, I putted nicely. I made a few really nice putts, and I hit some really good putts like here on 17 that didn't go in. But I felt good all day."
Crushers led by four shots in the team competition after Friday but are tied with Cleeks at 10-under through two rounds. Fireballs, led by Garcia, are four back at 6-under.
Meronk, Finland's Kalle Samooja (66 on Saturday) and Great Britian's Richard Bland (68) sparked Cleeks' resurgence. Captain Bryson DeChambeau (69) and Great Britian's Paul Casey (71) led the way for the Crushers.