Richard T. Lee led LIV Indianapolis; Michael La Sasso now on top
Canadian Richard T. Lee held the individual lead at the halfway mark of LIV Golf Indianapolis—the league's 2026 season-ending event—at 11 under par through two rounds. Michael La Sasso later seized the 54-hole lead at 13 under after a third-round 66, positioning the HyFlyers star for a potential first professional win Sunday at The Club at Chatham Hills in Westfield, Indiana.
Richard T. Lee's surge at LIV Golf Indianapolis captured attention well beyond the fairways. The Toronto native, who earned his LIV card ahead of the 2026 season after years on the Asian Tour, stood one stroke clear of Thomas Detry, Dustin Johnson, and Laurie Canter when the tournament reached its midpoint, according to Sportsnet.
Key Takeaways
- Richard T. Lee led at 11 under through two rounds, one stroke ahead of a three-way tie for second.
- Michael La Sasso grabbed the 54-hole lead at 13 under after rounds of 71, 60, and 66.
- Four players sit one stroke back of La Sasso, including Laurie Canter and Richard Bland.
- Legion XIII leads the team race at 34 under; HyFlyers trail by one shot.
- LIV faces funding uncertainty with Saudi sovereign wealth fund support ending next year.
Who led LIV Golf Indianapolis at the halfway mark?
Lee entered the weekend on top at 11 under par. The 35-year-old sits 19th in the season-long standings, where the top 34 players retain their cards for next season.
He is one stroke ahead of Belgium's Thomas Detry, American Dustin Johnson, and England's Laurie Canter. For Lee, Indianapolis represents a late-season breakthrough in a campaign played mostly outside the PGA Tour spotlight.
Lee tied for 36th at last year's RBC Canadian Open—his best career finish on the PGA Tour. His halfway lead offered a rare Canadian headline at the league's season finale.
How did Michael La Sasso take the 54-hole lead?
La Sasso, LIV Golf's youngest player at 22, turned professional before this season to join HyFlyers GC. He followed a second-round 60 with a 4-under 66 on Saturday to reach 13 under, per LIV Golf.
It marks the first time La Sasso has held a lead entering a final round since winning the 2025 NCAA Division I Individual Championship at Ole Miss. A victory Sunday would give him his first professional win and could make him the youngest individual winner in league history.
Richard Bland, 53 and the league's oldest active player, will share the final group with La Sasso and Canter—one of four players tied for second at 12 under alongside Cameron Smith and Detry.
What is at stake in the Indianapolis finale?
Sunday's final round decides both the tournament champion and the 2026 Team Championship. Legion XIII, the defending team champions, moved to 34 under. HyFlyers GC, seeking a first team title, are one shot back at 33 under.
On the individual side, Jon Rahm has already clinched his third consecutive Individual Championship. Bryson DeChambeau and others still vie for bonus-paying spots behind him on the season points table.
Fifteen players entered the final round within three shots of La Sasso's lead—a packed leaderboard for the season's last day in Westfield, Indiana.
Why does LIV Golf's business outlook matter now?
The league's future carries financial weight for players fighting to keep cards. Sportsnet reported LIV will no longer receive funding from Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund starting next year, adding uncertainty around roster stability.
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