SAN FRANCISCO – The long wait for the first golf major of 2020 is rewarded with an impressive ranking list and numerous opportunities for the finals of the PGA championship.
TPC Harding Park has proven to be a worthy test, with lots of problems and still opportunities for fireworks. Birdies are available, but golf balls can also be swallowed by deep rough trees and cypresses.
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With a similarly cool prediction for Sunday, here are the competitors heading into the finals, including Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka, who are within reach of a third straight PGA championship and fifth major title.
Score -9
Position: Leader
Maybe DJ has found the key to success: a meter book is overrated. In fact, Johnson lost his and he had to rely on his brother and Caddy AJ to find out the intricate details at Harding Park. Johnson shot 31 in the back and pounded three of the last five holes to shoot 65 – despite a double bogey on the ninth.
36-year-old Johnson shot eight rounds in a row in the PGA championship in the 1960s and is capable of winning that elusive second major championship. Ten years after blowing the PGA in an epic manner – he was punished twice for grounding his club in an 18-hole bunker to miss a playoff on Whistling Straits – he has another brilliant opportunity to after starting the third round on Saturday when he was four.
“I’ve been out here for a while,” said Johnson, whose only major title came at the 2016 US Open. “I had a lot of arguments and often made it.” [On Sunday]it is no different. I have to play golf well if I want to win. It’s very simple: I have to hit lots of fairways and lots of greens. If I can do that, I have a good chance of coming down the track on the back nine. ”
Score: -8
Position: T-2
This is new territory for the 24-year-old Scheffler, who is currently playing in his fourth major championship and his first PGA. He hasn’t won the PGA Tour yet. Birdies on three straight holes on the back nine gave him a share of the lead before bogeying at 18 for 65. He’s one of Johnson’s and will play with him in the final round.
“There is definitely some nerve, but I have to try to handle it as best I can and go out and play,” said Scheffler. “And I did well [in Saturday’s round] I just stay in the right frame of myself, make good, positive turns and do some nice birdies. “
Score: -8
Position: T-2
It’s been a hit-or-miss career for Champ, who has two PGA Tour wins – but only two other top 10 finishes. This is only the third major championship for the 25-year-old champ, who finished 54th in last year’s PGA. Champ followed his Friday 64 with a 67 and his long game is well suited for Harding Park. But he’s a newbie in big print.
Score: -7
Position: T-4
Barely a pro in a year, Morikawa, who took his second career victory a few weeks ago and seems steadfast at the age of 23, has a ton of advantages. After only 15 months, he is playing beyond his experience. Three birdies towards the end of his round on Saturday helped him fight back just two after day six.
“I had to play well,” he said. “Who knows if one of the leaders shoots 5 or 6 and really breaks up.” To have a chance, I had to do at least a pretty good lap. Now anything can happen to anyone. ”
Score: -7
Position: T-4
The Englishman hung around quietly at 68-67-68 to give himself a shot in his first major championship. Only Sergio Garcia (74) and Tom Kite (72) had bigger starts than Casey (64) before winning their first. At 43, Casey would also be the third oldest player behind Jerry Barber and Roberto De Vicenzo to win his first major title.
Score: -7
Position: T-4
The quest for the story was over when he bogeyte three straight holes into the back nine. But Koepka never seems to be denied with the majors, and he wanted to argue with birdies on two of the last three holes to pull within two strokes from Johnson.
Koepka seeks to become the first player since Peter Thomson won the Open from 1954 to 1956, winning a major for three consecutive years. Walter Hagen won the PGA four times in a row from 1924 to 1927.
Regarding the hunt for Johnson, Koepka said, “I like my chances. If I’ve been in this position I’ve capitalized. I don’t know, he only won one. I’m playing well. We’ll see. ”
Score: -6
Position: T-7
The beefed up Bryson must avoid the numerous bogies he continues to manufacture in order to win his first major championship. He never finished better than 15th in any major and this is his best opportunity, just three behind Johnson. His numerous birdies for the tournament (17) were somewhat offset by too many bogeys (11). Still, DeChambeau has the ability and confidence to make it happen.
Score: -6
Position: T-7
Nobody is more due than Finau, who keeps knocking on the door, regardless of whether it is a regular event or a big championship. A third round of 67 gives him another chance, but he’ll probably have to go deeper with so many people in front of him.
Score: -6
Position: T-7
Little did Rose Saturday and opted for a 70 that kept him within reach of the leaders. The 2013 US Open champion has a lot of experience with big events and shot 66 here in the first round. He will need someone else to stand a chance.
Score: -6
Position: T-7
Just two off the lead when the third round began, Day could only manage an even par 70 to fall three back. Still, he has the chance to win his second PGA championship. The Aussie has been on a nice, quiet run lately, taking three straight top 10 finishes in the PGA
Score: -5
Position: T-13
Surprising round two leader Li stayed beautiful for most of Saturday until his 13th hole tee shot was apparently stuck in a cypress tree, resulting in a lost ball and a double bogey 6. He added two more bogeys and only had one birdie for the round to shoot 73 and fall four strokes back. Li’s chances of becoming the first Chinese golfer to win a major championship likely depended on staying closer to the top.
Other
Daniel Berger and Tommy Fleetwood are in seventh place, only three behind and certainly still within striking distance. Joel Dahmen, 32 years old and only playing in his third major, would be an ultimate outsider. he sits four back. It was a quiet week for Xander Schauffele, who is also only four years old.
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