Winless Indian launches into LIV Golf Virginia lead

Pursuing his first individual LIV Golf win, India's Anirban Lahiri has recorded a bogey-free second round at seven-under 64 to hold a two-shot lead in Virginia.

A runner-up on the breakaway circuit four times, Lahiri sank seven birdies and made a 39-foot par putt on No.16 on Saturday, then finished strong with a par on No.18 after landing in the rough. On the last, he had to get up and down from a distance of more than 100 yards.

"Yeah, those felt like birdies as well," Lahiri said of his impressive finish to the day at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.

"I think the first 15 holes was about as solid as I could have played. I missed a few putts and I still made quite a lot of birdies.

"Then 16, I was trying to hit like an in-between 9-iron and I tried to compress it a little bit too much, and everyone else saw what happened. It was nice to make that putt."

Veterans Bubba Watson, Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell - who are also chasing their first individual LIV Golf win - are at nine under entering Sunday's final round, just two shots behind the leader.

"It's always good to be close to the lead, have a chance on the last day," Watson said.

"Looking forward to it. Looking forward to the challenge of this golf course ... You hit your driver good, you hit your irons in the right spots, you have a chance to play this golf course."

RangeGoats GC captain Watson birdied the 17th and 18th, then closed his round with pars on the first and second en route to a six-under 65. Kaymer, who shared the first-round lead with Crushers GC captain Bryson DeChambeau, shot a four-under 67.

McDowell notched three straight birdies on Nos. 15-17 to put himself in contention with a five-under 66.

Joaquin Niemann, DeChambeau and Jon Rahm, the top three in the individual standings, are tied for fifth at seven under, four shots off top spot.

Marc Leishman (71) is the leading Australian at four under and in joint 14th, with Cameron Smith (70) two under, Lucas Herbert (73) six over and Matt Jones (75) eight over.

With AAP.