CROMWELL, Conn.– Phil Mickelson went into Saturdays 3rd round as the sole leader of the Travelers Championship. A shot at his first triumph in his very first occasion since turning 50 years old 11 days ago appeared like a genuine possibility.
After a less-than-stellar 71 in Saturdays 3rd round, and with a leaderboard total with red-hot gamers and huge names posting numbers in the low 60s, is it still a possibility?
Heres an appearance at everything from Mickelsons opportunities to Bryson DeChambeaus game of opportunity to a refresher course on Brendon Todd and more to ready for what might be an intriguing Sunday at the Travelers:
Can Phil Mickelson make a charge on Sunday at the Travelers? Bill Streicher-USA TODAY SportsDoes Phil still take a crack at?
He finished his second round, a dazzling 63 that nearly included a hole-out from the fairway at the 18th, after 5 p.m. ET on Friday and was back on the tee at 9:15 a.m. Saturday morning. OK, playing two rounds of golf 16 hours apart may not seem like the hardest thing in the world, but he did simply turn 50.
1 RelatedOn a day when it seemed that everyone in the field was posting a number in the 60s, Mickelson shot a 1-over 71. Mickelson and Will Gordon, who were in the same threesome on Saturday, were the only 2 gamers in the leading 20 not to shoot in the 60s.
What does all this mean for Sunday? Theres an excellent news/bad news method to look at this: Bad news is hes 6 shots behind Todd; great news is hes connected for seventh, meaning there arent a great deal of people to leap between him and Todd.
” I havent played great this year. Ive missed out on a lot of cuts, and the next thing I understand my game is starting to come back and I can sense it,” Mickelson said. “Im going to come out tomorrow and provide it my finest to go low. I understand Im playing all right to do that.”
Bet on the casino
(He hit a tee shot 428 backyards in Fridays second round. Most significantly, hes playing well. He hasnt shot a round even worse than 70 because returning from the shutdown; in truth, he has published 65 or better five times in 11 rounds.
Thats inadequate to give him a great appearance Sunday? Well, theres this, too: Hes walking around comparing himself to a casino.
” What I need to do is picture that Im like the casino and simply keep playing,” he stated after Saturdays 65. “Just keep playing and providing myself the finest chance to win out here, whichs what Im doing.”
Its the 2nd day in a row he has actually chosen the gambling establishment recommendation.
” Im trying to be your house,” he said. “Im absolutely trying to be the home.”
He was displeased with how he hit his chauffeur in the 3rd round. On Saturday afternoon, his round total and as rain hammered down, there was one person left standing on the range striking driver after driver.
” Im guiding it with the driver right now, not 100% positive with it, but Im working hard to figure out what I had at Colonial and RBC,” he stated.
4 straight rounds of 68 or much better gave him simply his second top-20 surface since January. He opened with 1-under 69, then posted 64 on Friday prior to a nine-birdie, zero-bogey 61 on Saturday.
” I seemed like I gave myself actually excellent birdie chances on every hole,” stated Johnson, who commemorated his 36th birthday on Monday.
The 61 was the most affordable round Johnson has ever posted on Tour. On Sunday, he will be in search of his 21st profession win.
Brendon Todd, who shot 61 on Saturday at the Travelers Championship, remains in search of his 3rd win of the season. Photo by Elsa/Getty ImagesAbout this Brendon Todd person
Todd, Justin Thomas and Webb Simpson are the only gamers on the PGA Tour with several wins this year. On Sunday, after Johnson posted 61 to take the lead, Todd matched it.
” It actually was a moving day, so I was simply attempting to get as low as I could, and if anything simply utilize the leaderboard as motivation,” he stated.
Its a lot to request for another 61, however offered how the players have benefited from TPC River Highlands all week, it will likely take a low number on Sunday for Todd to get his 3rd win.
“That simply depends on how the four or 5 men behind me play. My job is going to be to go out there and get off to an excellent start and just attempt to make as numerous birdies as I can and see if I cant shoot another good round.”
Its back to see and wait who is playing
As this week has proved, the field at the Travelers Championship is fluid. The coronavirus pandemic has caused seven withdrawals today. On Saturday, Jason Day asked to be tested again and had his tee time postponed by an hour to see if he was negative and if he might stay in the field. He ended up remaining in the tournament, however played the round by himself.
This is going to be a continuous circumstance for the Tour, one that will be kept track of not just week to week, but day to day and hour to hour. On Friday, before the second round, Denny McCarthy checked positive and withdrew, as did Bud Cauley, who played with McCarthy in Thursdays first round. The 3rd member of their group, Matt Wallace, stayed in the field and played alone on Friday, but shot 72 and missed out on the cut.
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Michael Eaves details why Jason Day played a round solo after he checked negative for the coronavirus.
He completed his 2nd round, a dazzling 63 that almost consisted of a hole-out from the fairway at the 18th, after 5 p.m. ET on Friday and was back on the tee at 9:15 a.m. Saturday early morning. OK, playing 2 rounds of golf 16 hours apart may not seem like the hardest thing in the world, however he did just turn 50. He hasnt shot a round worse than 70 because returning from the shutdown; in fact, he has published 65 or better five times in 11 rounds.
On Saturday afternoon, his round complete and as rain hammered down, there was one person left standing on the variety hitting chauffeur after motorist. On Friday, prior to the 2nd round, Denny McCarthy checked favorable and withdrew, as did Bud Cauley, who played with McCarthy in Thursdays very first round.
