Kennedy three shots outside coveted top-three spot at LIV Golf wildcard chase in Florida
Max Kennedy hits his shot from the seventh tee during the third round of the LIV Golf Promotions at Black Diamond Ranch on Saturday, January 10, 2026 in Lecanto, Florida. (Photo by Mike Stobe/LIV Golf)
Royal Dublin’s Max Kennedy broke par for the third day running but he has his work cut out to win one of three LIV Golf wildcards heading into the final round of LIV Golf Promotions in Florida.
The Dubliner (24) carded a one-under 69 in the first round of the 36-hole weekend playoff and goes into the final day three strokes outside the top three who will win coveted wildcard spots to compete in the megabucks LIV Golf League in 2026.
Canada’s Richard T. Lee fired six birdies in a bogey-free, six-under 64 to lead by two strokes from South Africa’s Oliver Bekker (41), Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond (30) and US veteran Anthony Kim (40) at Black Diamond Ranch.
Unlike the first two days, when scores were reset after each round, third-round scores will carry over into Sunday’s final round.
Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard sits alone in fifth after carding a three-under 67, while Kennedy lies in a five-way tie for sixth with Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut, Japan’s Takanori Konishi, England’s Joe Pagdin and South Korea’s Jeunghun Wang.
While the top three (playoffs will be used to break any ties) will earn those precious LIV Golf exemptions, the top 10 and ties will earn the right to play in The International Series, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour.
Kennedy is on track to clinch one of those spots in the 22-man 36-hole playoff, but he’s also in with a chance of hitting the jackpot and making the top three.
He birdied the fourth and 13th on the Ranch Course to get to two-under, but made just his second bogey of the week at the par-three 17th to leave himself playing catch-up.
Canadian Lee was thrilled with his 64 and after making just one bogey over the first three days, he knows that avoiding mistakes will be key to winning one of those three wildcards on Sunday.
“Well, I didn't have any eagles like yesterday,” Lee said. “But I'll take six birdies out there, no bogeys. “Definitely the key is to not make mistakes out there and try to make as many birdies as you can.”
Kim (40) was also pleased to go bogey-free for his 66 and give himself a chance to retain LIV Golf status after he returned from 13 years out of the game to play on the Saudi-funded league last season.
“Yeah, I feel great,” the American said after a clutch par save at the 18th. “I just have an opportunity to get one of those spots. “That's what I asked for coming into this week, and put myself in good position. Now I've just got to go finish.”
Kim will tee it up with Janewattananond and Lee in the final group while Kennedy goes out in the third-to-last group with Pagdin and Konishi.
Sweden’s Bjorn Hellgren, Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan, Peru’s Julian Perico, Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent and Australia’s Matt Jones shot 70s to share 11th place, four shots outside the top three.
Apart from those wildcards, there is cash at stake with $200,000 for first place, $150,000 for second and $100,000 for third.
Winning a LIV Golf place would be life-changing for Kennedy as each of the 13 regular-season events has a $25 million purse.
‘I mean, it's a very big prize at the end of the day,” Janewattananond said. “Those three spots up for grabs, it would give me freedom to play wherever I want and security for my family.”
