SAN FRANCISCO– A long haul for the first golf significant of 2020 is being rewarded with an outstanding leaderboard and numerous possibilities heading into the final round of the PGA Championship.
TPC Harding Park has actually shown to be a deserving test, with plenty of trouble hiding and yet chances for fireworks. Birdies are to be had, however golf balls are also to be swallowed by deep rough and Cypress trees too.
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With a similar cool forecast for Sunday, heres a look at the contenders heading into the last round, including Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka, who is within reach of a third straight PGA Championship and a fifth significant title.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesScore -9 Position: Leader.
1 RelatedPerhaps DJ discovered the key to success: A yardage book is overvalued. Really, Johnson lost his, and he had to rely on his sibling and caddie, AJ, for the detailed details at Harding Park. Johnson shot 31 on the back and birdied three of the last 5 holes to shoot 65– despite a double bogey at the ninth.
Johnson, 36, has actually now shot eight straight rounds in the 60s at the PGA Championship and remains in position to win that evasive second major champion. 10 years after blowing the PGA in epic style– he was punished 2 strokes for grounding his club in an 18th-hole bunker to miss a playoff at Whistling Straits– he has another outstanding chance after being 4 back to begin Saturdays 3rd round.
” I have actually been out here some time now,” said Johnson, whose lone major title came at the 2016 U.S. Open. “Ive been in contention a lot, and Ive got it done a great deal of times. [On Sunday], its no different. Im going to have to play great golf if I desire to win. Its basic: Ive got to strike a great deal of fairways and a great deal of greens. If I can do that, Im going to have a great chance coming down the stretch on the back 9.”.
Score: -6 Position: T-7.
The beefed-up Bryson requires to prevent the numerous bogeys he continues to make if he is to win his very first significant champion. He has actually never finished much better than 15th in a significant, and this is his best chance, just three behind Johnson.
Score: -6 Position: T-7.
Nobody is more due than Finau, who keeps knocking at the door, whether it be routine events or significant championships. A third-round 67 offers him another chance, but he probably needs to go lower than that with so numerous individuals ahead of him.
Rating: -7 Position: T-4.
The mission for history appeared over when he bogeyed three straight holes on the back 9. But Koepka appears to never be denied in the majors, and he willed himself into contention with birdies on two of the last 3 holes to pull within two shots of Johnson.
Koepka is attempting to end up being the very first gamer given that Peter Thomson won The Open from 1954 to 1956 to win a significant in three straight years. Walter Hagen won the PGA 4 straight times from 1924 to 1927.
When Ive been in this position before, Ive capitalized. I dont understand, hes just won one.
Score: -6 Position: T-7.
The beefed-up Bryson requires to avoid the various bogeys he continues to make if he is to win his very first significant champion. Lis opportunities to become the first Chinese golf enthusiast to win a significant championship most likely hinged on him staying closer to the lead.
Joel Dahmen, at age 32 and playing in simply his 3rd major, would be a supreme underdog winning; he sits four back.
Simply two out of the lead when the 3rd round began, Day might only handle an even-par 70 to fall three behind. Still, he has a chance to capture his 2nd PGA Championship. The Aussie has actually been on a good, quiet run of late, posting three consecutive top-10 finishes coming into the PGA.
The Englishman has actually quietly hung around with ratings of 68-67-68 to give himself a shot at his first major champion. At 43, Casey also would be the third-oldest player behind Jerry Barber and Roberto De Vicenzo to win his very first major title.
Score: -8 Position: T-2.
This is new territory for Scheffler, 24, who is playing in just his fourth significant championship and his very first PGA. He has yet to win on the PGA Tour.
” Theres certainly some nerves, but just got to attempt and manage them as finest I can and go out and play,” Scheffler said.
Rating: -7 Position: T-4.
Hardly a pro for a year, there is a lot of benefit for Morikawa, who made his second profession success a few weeks back and appears unflappable at age 23. Out of college just 15 months, he plays beyond his experience. Three birdies near the end of his round on Saturday helped get him in contention, just two back, after beginning the day 6 behind.
” I had to play well, “he stated. To have an opportunity, I had to shoot a quite good round, at least.
Rating: -8 Position: T-2.
This is simply the 3rd major champion for Champ, 25, who connected for 54th at last years PGA. He is a beginner to the major pressure.
Rating: -5 Position: T-13.
The surprise second-round leader, Li hung in magnificently for most of Saturday until his tee shot on the 13th hole apparently got stuck in a Cypress tree, resulting in a lost ball and a double-bogey 6. He included two more bogeys and had simply one birdie for the round to shoot 73 and fall 4 strokes back. Lis opportunities to become the first Chinese golf player to win a major champion most likely depended upon him remaining closer to the lead.
Others.
Daniel Berger and Tommy Fleetwood are connected for seventh, only 3 back, and definitely still within striking distance. Joel Dahmen, at age 32 and playing in simply his third significant, would be an ultimate underdog winning; he sits four back. Its been a peaceful week for Xander Schauffele, who is likewise simply four back.
Rating: -7 Position: T-4.
The Englishman has actually quietly hung around with ratings of 68-67-68 to offer himself a shot at his first major champion. Only Sergio Garcia (74) and Tom Kite (72) had more major starts than Casey (64) before winning their first. At 43, Casey likewise would be the third-oldest player behind Jerry Barber and Roberto De Vicenzo to win his very first significant title.
Score: -6 Position: T-7.
Rose could not get much going on Saturday, choosing a 70 that kept him within reach of the leaders. The 2013 U.S. Open champion has plenty of experience in big occasions, and he shot 66 in the preliminary here. Hell require another one like that to have an opportunity.
