Lucas Herbert shoots 63 to maintain six-shot lead at LIV Virginia

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/herbert-lucas/n9uhHG2A/"]Herbert[/a]'s 9-under-par 63 rocketed him to 17 under for the event at Trump National DC. Spaniard [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/garcia-sergio/fRIZumKj/"]Sergio Garcia[/a] (67), at 11 under, is the only ‌player within nine shots of Herbert, while Englishman [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bland-richard/E5tu7cOt/"]Richard Bland[/a] had the second-best round of the day, a 66, to take ‌third place at 7 under.[/p][p]Herbert holed nine birdies and nine pars in his mistake-free trip ‌around the course. He sank six birdies in a seven-hole stretch from Nos. 6-12, then ended his round ‌birdie-birdie for good measure.[/p][p]"[b]It was kind of one of those days - probably 36 holes, ‌two of those days - of things that probably just come easy in some respects,[/b]" Herbert said.[/p][p]"To be honest, I probably tried to enjoy it a little bit out there because I was able to in the moment see that that ‌was happening and kind of just be able to sit ⁠back and appreciate it a little bit and understand ‌this is pretty not normal.[/p][p]"[b]You don't know how many times as a golfer you're going to get ​to experience that kind of feeling.[/b]"[/p][p]Herbert, 30, has won on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Asian Tour but is still seeking his first LIV title in his ​third year with the league.[/p][p]Herbert said he spent time Thursday night with his wife and her family, not thinking about his first-round lead.[/p][p]"[b]It was kind of good to get away from the ⁠fact that I was sitting on a ​two-shot lead there and think about something else for a while,[/b]" he said.[/p][p]"[b]I think we might be doing something pretty similar the way it worked out overnight.[/b]"[/p][embed guid="e3203252-58e4-475e-91e5-ba2b8fd70621" url="https://x.com/7Sport/status/2052915025837277492" social-type="twitter" /][p]Herbert's stellar score has helped the all-Australian Ripper GC build a six-shot lead over Crushers GC and Cleeks Golf Club in the team competition.[/p][p]Ripper - featuring [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/leishman-marc/tniC8d90/"]‌Marc Leishman[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/smylie-elvis/tfPHTLCK/"]Elvis Smylie[/a] and captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/smith-cameron/GMrdkLyR/"]Cameron Smith[/a] - is 21 under.[/p][p]Garcia got hot at the end of his round, birdieing Nos. 14, 16, 17 and 18. That included a 19-foot birdie putt followed by a 14-footer at the par-3 14th and 16th holes.[/p][p]"[b]I felt like, if I could shoot 3 under, it would be a really nice round and stuff. I managed to shoot 5, and I'm still far away from the lead,[/b]" Garcia said.[/p][p]"Yeah, it was a good day.[/p][p]"[b]Obviously tricky with the wind and everything and the greens getting firmer, but very, very happy with the way I handled it.[/b]"[/p][embed guid="eaa7eee0-36fb-47dc-84b1-52c0d03ab108" url="https://x.com/livgolf_league/status/2052834576976744955" social-type="twitter" /][p]Bland, 53, is vying for his first LIV victory like Herbert. He opened with ‌three birdies in his first five holes (Nos. 8-12), then added birdies coming in at Nos. 2, 5 ​and 7 while staying bogey-free.[/p][p]Bland said he's winding down his playing career and content ‌with where things stand.[/p][p]"[b]I kind of earmarked next year would probably be my last year of playing full-time, as I do right now. Then going forward, really kind of scattered, but play where I want to play.[/b][/p][p]"So, yeah, semi-retirement, it's getting a lot nearer - and that's fine. I'm OK with that.[/p][p]"[b]I've had one helluva ride out here and the best ⁠decision I ever made.[/b]"[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dechambeau-bryson/vZG7Cn7s/"]Bryson DeChambeau[/a] and Spanish star [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rahm-jon/h41jCwka/"]⁠Jon Rahm[/a] each shot 70 Friday ‌and are part of a tie for seventh at 5 under as they prepare for next week's ​PGA Championship.[/p]