Talor Gooch is 10-shots in front after a stunning second round at LIV Adelaide

They came in force to see Cameron Smith but fans at LIV Adelaide were given something extra special from a little-known visitor.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 22: Talor Gooch of RangeGoats GC shakes hands with his caddie after finishing his round during day two of Liv Golf Adelaide at The Grange Golf Course on April 22, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

When the LIV caravan rolled in to Adelaide it appeared to be a one-man show with Cameron Smith plastered everywhere and expectation as much as high hopes the Aussie superstar would pocket the $5.9 million winner’s cheque.

Days of adulation and the sort of fan focus his boss, Greg Norman, encountered regularly in his pomp transitioned to enjoyment and a bevy of second day birdies for Smith who jumped to withing reach of a podium finish and plenty to play for on Sunday.

But while Smith did enough to keep the masses enthralled the one-man show became all about Talor Gooch who is just 18 holes away from his first LIV win after a second-straight round of flawless sandbelt golf at The Grange gave him a near unbelievable 10-shot lead going in to the final day.

Even Phil Mickelson, who shot a seven-under 65 himself on a day littered with red numbers, said it was “unheard of” for Gooch to shoot back-to-back rounds of 62

Gooch, who credited his long-time Australian caddy, Mal Baker, for inside knowledge on the greens in particular this week, had a six-shot lead when he made an eagle on the par five 10th hole, aided by a favourable bounce off a tree from the tee.

That lead was a ridiculous eight shots after a seventh birdie, to go with an eagle, as he again went bogey-free again his second round of 10-uner 62 as LIV players all over the course shot the lights out amid a backdrop of mood-enhancing music and uninhibited fans for a second-straight day.

Then a final hole birdie gave him a 10-shot adavantage and despite his massive lead, Gooch said he was in for a nervous night knowing what’s on offer on Sunday.

“Whenever you‘re doing something that you’ve worked your whole life for, I think you’re going to get nervous,” he said.

“I’ll definitely be nervous tomorrow throughout. I was nervous today throughout. You don’t want to look like an idiot in front of a bunch of people, plain and simple.”

Gooch, who hadn’t finished better than 14th in the three LIV events so far this season, had the thousands following Smith, who finished 11-shots behind despite shooting a 66, considering ditching the home-town hero to see the leader, such was the near-flawless level of golf he was playing.

His 20-under is the lowest 36-hole score in LIV history

Smith is “still in the tournament” but seemingly playing for second barring what would have to be one of the most calamitous collapses for Gooch not to snare the massive cash first prize on Sunday.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 22: Cam Smith of Ripper GC tees off on the 12th hole during day two of Liv Golf Adelaide at The Grange Golf Course on April 22, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

Coming in to the tournament everyone knew it was shorter than plenty, and as golfers like to say, was “gettable” in favourable conditions.

Calling it gettable seems an understatement with 18 players at eight-under or better, after two days of perfect weather for low-scoring which mixed perfectly with the party-like atmosphere which everyone in attendance knew was something different to what they’d seen before.

The top of the leaderboard was littered with the players they came to see as well.

Brooks Koepka, also a runner-up at Augusta and a last-start LIV winner in Orlando joined the birdie blitz with a bogey-free 65 to grab a five-way share of second place..

Phil Mickelson in Adelaide on April 21, 2023. (Photo by Brenton Edwards / AFP) /

Fresh from his runner-up finish at the Masters Phil Mickelson, who had been criticised for his poor output before Augusta, was in second at one-stage on Saturday before dropping slightly after a seven-under 65 left him at nine-under.

The best brought their best on a windless, sunny Saturday.

Between them the players who filled the top 15 positions only had 13 bogeys for the day. It was the entertainment LIV promised in golfing form.

THE LEADERBOARD

20-under Talor Gooch

10--under Pat Perez, Brooks Koepka, Abraham Ancer , Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen

THE AUSSIES

9-under Cameron Smith

4-under Marc Leishman

1-over Matt Jones

3-over Jed Morgan

Originally published as Talor Gooch is 10-shots in front after a stunning second round at LIV Adelaide