Cameron Smith will need to lift his game if he wants to stop a cool $28 million jackpot slipping through his fingers.

The Australian champion’s hopes took a serious knock when American Talor Gooch seized both the initiative and the lead on the second day of LIV Golf’s season finale in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Smith, by contrast, ended Saturday tied in 25th place at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club – a slot that earns no ranking points and would drop him to No.2 in the season’s Individual Champion standings.

Three birdies on his back nine left Smith two under overall, 10 shots behind leader Brooks Koepka.

More importantly for the Australian’s hopes of a bumper payday,  Gooch moved into pole position in the Individual Champion race, his 64 putting him in a four-way tie for ninth at six under.

$50 million year

Smith had conceded before the tournament began it was impossible to ignore the mind-boggling money at stake as he eyes a $50 million year.

Australia’s golfing superstar entered the last individual event of the season as the points leader in a three-way battle with Americans Gooch and Bryson DeChambeau for the $28 million bonus.

With 40 points up for grabs for Sunday’s victor, the simplest scenario for Smith (170 points) is to win to hold off Gooch (162) and DeChambeau (146) and clinch the season’s title and another eye-watering pay day.

Gooch would be guaranteed individual honours with a fourth success of the year, but DeChambeau can only snatch the bounty if he wins or places second, and Smith and Gooch finish outside the top 10.

With victories at LIV Golf Bedminster and London, and a playoff loss in Tulsa to Dustin Johnson, Smith has already banked $23.3 million in prize money from the Saudi-backed breakaway league this season.

Nice little earner

If he secures the season-long individual prize, the 2022 British Open champion and former world No.2 will have made more than $50 million in on-course earnings alone in 2023.

“Everyone knows what’s on the line tomorrow, and that’s going to build the intensity of it,” Gooch said after his Saturday round.

“It’s such an incredible opportunity, you’ve just got to take it in your stride and embrace it.”

The other player with Individual Champion aspirations, DeChambeau, made a big charge on Saturday with a seven-under 63 that leaves him tied for fourth.

“All I’m focused on tomorrow is winning this tournament, and the rest will take care of itself,” DeChambeau said.

“The job is not even close to being done. We’ve got 18 more holes.”

Koepka started the tournament too far back in points to challenge for the Individual title, but does have an opportunity to finish third in the standings and claim a $US4 million bonus.

He must recapture the Jeddah title he won last year, and hope DeChambeau finishes no better than 14th.

-AAP