Jersey City (USA), Aug 21 (EFE) .- The Spanish Jon Rahm was not fine in the third round of The Northern Trust tournament, of the ATP Tour, but he was able to retain the leadership that he shares with the Australian Cameron Smith, who established mark of 60 strokes (-11) for an accumulated of 197 (-16), one of advantage over the South African Erik van Rooyen (198, -15), third.
Americans Justin Thomas and Tony Finau accumulated 199 hits (-14) and shared fourth place, while Irishman Shane Lowry, Norwegian Viktor Hovland and fellow local Tom Hoge shared were placed in sixth place and 200 (-13) .
Rahm, world number one, who had completed the first 48 holes without committing a bogey – his best professional record on the PGA Tour – maintained perfection until par 5 of 13 when he doubled bogey.
The Spanish golfer regained control on 14 with par and birdie on 15, but bogey again on 16 and on 17 he made what was his seventh birdie, which would allow him to save the lead with a record of 67 hits (-4).
Rahm, the reigning US Open champion who missed the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to Covid-19, was once again able to find his balance in the decisive moments.
“I surely hope I don’t have to depend on something so unfortunate every time to have a great victory,” Rahm said. “I have been able to see the positive side of things and come back even stronger and as I have shown I am ready to compete to the fullest.”
Rahm showed it by the way he combined the shots in the last five holes, which were key in saving the lead and stealing the spotlight from the great game played by Smith.
Before finishing Rahm, Smith had completed the course at Liberty National Golf Club with his best professional record having the lowest signed card since competing on the PGA Tour.
The 28-year-old from Brisbane shot a bogey-free 30 on both the front and back of nine to equal top-ranked Rahm, in the first $ 84 million FedEx Cup playoff tournament.
One day after leaving Liberty National in frustration for a 68 in the second round, Smith did everything right with his long shots and putt.
“I guess that’s just golf. It’s such a strange game,” Smith said. “I got here this morning and the body felt a little different and the hitting of the ball was much better.”
Smith birdied five of the first six holes, his longest putt since five meters on the second par 3, and he holed from thirty feet on the ninth par 4, then rolled on a birdie putt of just over six feet on the tenth .
While the Colombian Sebastián Muñoz was once again the best Latin American by delivering a signed card of 68 strokes (-3) that allowed him to accumulate 205 (-8) and share the 28th place with five other players.
The Chilean Joaquín Niemann had his best record so far in the tournament with a journey of 65 strokes (-6) that allowed him to recover 29 positions for 206 (-7) and rose to thirty-fourth place.
The Mexican Carlos Ortiz delivered a signed card of 68 (-3) and reached 207 (-6) that also made him climb six positions to the fortieth place.
While his compatriot Abraham Ancer also recovered 13 positions to position 50 with a record of 67 (-4) and accumulated of 208 (-5).
