Key occasions
Having pushed their balls into the financial institution at 14, Koepka and DeChambeau take turns to flip delicate chips to a few ft. A shock, nevertheless, as Koepka permits his downhill putt to squirt broad proper of the cup. An enormous likelihood for a birdie that might have given him a share of the lead spurned! DeChambeau cleans up for his birdie and returns to -2.
McIlroy sprays his drive at 18 into the timber down the left. Back on 14, Koepka and DeChambeau take turns to fireplace their drives into the face of the thickly lined banks guarding the entrance of the inexperienced. And on 13, Hovland clips his method pin excessive to 12 ft, however then fails to hit a makeable straight birdie putt with confidence. Just a par 5.
Bryson DeChambeau almost makes his 25-footer for par, but it surely stops simply wanting the cup. He slips again to -1. It’s a double whammy for him, too, as a result of he’s given Brooks Koepka a learn for his birdie putt, and the two-time champion makes no mistake. In it goes, and the gallery erupts. They’re not booing Brooks now! Meanwhile Rory McIlroy chips up the swale gamely to a few ft, then does his finest to overlook the bogey putt, but it surely drops after a fast look-see across the rim. And how in regards to the 46-year-old membership skilled Michael Block?!
-6: Hovland (12), Conners (12)
-5: Koepka (13)
-3: Rose (15)
-1: McIlroy (17), DeChambeau (13), Suh (12), Scheffler (12)
E: Block (15)
Another birdie for Michael Block! This is a sensational story! He arrows his tee shot at 15 straight on the flag, leaving himself an uphill four-footer for birdie. He’s not lacking it, and because the gallery holler, he wears the look of a person who doesn’t fairly know the way he’s managing to stroll on air, however having fun with each second nonetheless. Just a par for his associate Justin Rose, who stays at -3.
Trouble for Rory at 17. He sends his drive into thick tough down the left, then his second right into a fairway bunker. His third flies over the inexperienced and down a swale on the again. That’s not the place you ever wish to end up on a Donald Ross course. Some hassle for Bryson DeChambeau at 13, too: over the again in three, he nudges out of the filth however the slope of the inexperienced takes his ball off on a journey, a very good 25 ft previous the outlet. Both gamers with critical work to avoid wasting par, or extra realistically restrict the harm to bogey.
In it goes! We have a tie on the prime. The rain has stopped once more, and Moving Day is coming to a boil!
-6: Hovland (12), Conners (11)
-4: Koepka (12)
-3: Rose (14)
-2: McIlroy (16), DeChambeau (12)
-1: Suh (11), Scheffler (11)
Birdie for Michael Block at 14! That’s completely timed, for the reason that cameras had been on him all the best way down the golf green for a CBS stroll ‘n’ discuss. He earns a fist-bump of congratulations from his associate Justin Rose. He’s +1. Meanwhile the chief Corey Conners leaves himself some work at 11, leaving his first putt 5 ft brief, however he’s exhibiting no indicators of buckling beneath the load of main a serious championship, and rolls in his par putt calmly. Mind you, Viktor Hovland has the chance to affix him, having almost slam-dunked his second at 12. He’s left with a three-footer for birdie.
Having didn’t birdie the comparatively straightforward 14th and fifteenth, Rory McIlroy makes one on 16. That’s the results of a 330-yard drive down the center adopted by a wedge from 117 yards to seven ft. He’s -2. Meanwhile up on 12, Brooks Koepka fires his second straight on the flag and tidies up for a birdie that strikes him to -4.
Viktor Hovland sends a mild draw into the guts of the par-three eleventh. He rolls within the 20-footer that continues to be for a birdie that brings him again to degree par for his round … and takes him to inside a shot off the lead.
-6: Conners (10)
-5: Hovland (11)
-3: Rose (13), Koepka (11)
-2: DeChambeau (11)
-1: McIlroy (15), Suh (10), Scheffler (10)
A few expensive errors for Justin Rose on the par-five thirteenth. He sends his method broad proper, then flubs his chip from the cabbage. His second try works out properly, although, and restricts the loss to a single shot. He’s -3. That may have been worse.
Rory McIlroy pours within the 15-foot par putt! On the face of it, nothing to have a good time. But had he dropped a stroke, he’d have performed 13, 14 and 15 in degree par, and so they’re the best holes on the course. He’ll definitely be feeling higher than his compatriot, although: Shane Lowry, having despatched his tee shot to a few ft, pulls the birdie putt broad left, and that’s an appalling miss. Lowry had parred 13 and bogeyed 14, so it’s been a really deflating stretch for him. McIlroy is -1; Lowry +1.
Viktor Hovland sends his method at 10 to eight ft. He thinks he’s received the birdie putt, but it surely loops out and he wanders off with a wry smile on his face, nonetheless two behind Corey Conners. Meanwhile up on the par-three fifteenth, Rory McIlroy shoves his tee shot down the swale to the appropriate, and solely simply manages to get his chip as much as keep on the inexperienced. Some work to do for his par.
Rory McIlroy manages to scramble his par at 14, however that wild drive value him the chance to make one other treasured birdie. He stays at -1. Meanwhile the rain has abruptly began coming down once more. Hard. It’s not anticipated to final too lengthy, nevertheless.
Scottie Scheffler comes up wanting 9 however manages to stand up and all the way down to scramble a par. He’s out in 39, although, not on his recreation in any respect. That par putt from six ft solely simply grabbed the left-hand fringe of the cup, too. Meanwhile his enjoying associate Corey Conners, the event chief, salvages a par of his personal with a fragile punch out of the thick tough to the aspect of the inexperienced, the place he was short-sided. He stays two away from Hovland and Rose.
Viktor Hovland isn’t too far-off from draining a 45-footer on 9. He’ll take par and hits the flip in 36. His enjoying associate Justin Suh makes a 30-footer for par, although, and that avoids three bogeys in succession. He turns in 37. They’re -4 and -1 respectively. Meanwhile Rory McIlroy sends a wild tee shot on the risk-and-reward 14th in direction of the timber on the appropriate. That might have misplaced fairly just a few yards coming again down a close-by cart path. Rory appears suitably involved.
Another birdie for Justin Rose! He sends his tee shot at 11 over the flag, and rolls the dead-straight 12-footer he leaves himself into the centre of the cup, lifeless weight. He saunters off with the air of a person who doesn’t have a care on this planet. He’s on it proper now, he actually is. As is his enjoying associate Michael Block, who rattles in a 20-footer to maneuver to -1. What every week the membership professional is having! But simply as Rose closes in on Conners, so the Canadian eases additional clear, wedging his second at 8 from 130 yards to 4 ft, and making his first birdie of the day! And it’s back-to-back birdies for Rory McIlroy, who screws his wedge into 13 again to kick-in distance. The rain having stopped, the scoring is hotting up!
-6: Conners (8)
-4: Rose (11), Hovland (8)
-3: Koepka (9)
-2: DeChambeau (9)
-1: McIlroy (13), Lee (12), Suh (8), Scheffler (8)
Justin Suh drives into the timber down the appropriate of 8. The inevitable consequence: a bogey that drops the 25-year-old Californian to -1. But his enjoying associate Viktor Hovland whips his second from the tough 140 yards out to 10 ft, and makes a birdie that brings him again to -4. Meanwhile a few gamers be part of Tommy Fleetwood within the clubhouse lead at +1: Stephen Jaeger and Victor Perez, who each card 69s in the present day.
Despite the massive break, it’s a fourth bogey of the day for the world quantity two Scottie Scheffler. His wedge into 7 almost spins again off the inexperienced, and although he nearly drains the par putt from distance, he’s tapping in for bogey. Meanwhile one other par for the chief Corey Conners, who’s making like Nick Faldo at Muirfield in 1987 proper now. And lastly a putt fails to drop for Justin Rose, who fires his method at 10 straight on the flag, just for his eight-foot birdie effort to unluckily horseshoe out. So near narrowing Conners’ result in a single stroke, but thus far.
-5: Conners (7)
-3: Rose (10), Koepka (8), Hovland (7)
-2: DeChambeau (8), Suh (7)
-1: Lee (12), Scheffler (7)
E: Lowry (12), McIlroy (12), Svensson (11)
Birdie for Rory McIlroy at 12. That’s the reward for a booming drive adopted by a wedge clipped to 5 ft. In goes the putt and he strikes again to degree par. Fours for Brooks and Bryson at 8; you’d take pars there any day.
BREAKING NEWS: Justin Rose finds a fairway! He does so at 10. That’s solely the ninth time he’s hit one this week, in 35 makes an attempt. To be honest, at -3, it’s not been doing him an excessive amount of hurt. Meanwhile an enormous break for Scottie Scheffler on 7. He sends his tee shot beneath a tree, and makes an attempt to ship his second low over the creek working throughout the golf green. His ball clips a tree, bounces into the water, after which out the opposite aspect. Lucky Scottie.
Min Woo Lee hasn’t featured on a lot of the protection but. He may now, although. The up-and-coming Aussie had traversed the entrance 9 in 35 pictures. Level par for his round, degree par for the event. But now he rakes in a 60-footer throughout 11 for a birdie that takes him into the crimson at -1. The crowd get behind him, and he presents the ball as a memento to a fortunate punter. Can he match his older sister Minjee in changing into a serious champion? He’s received the sport all proper.
The excellent news for the gamers: the rain has stopped. Off come the waterproofs, down go the umbrellas, and up go the possibilities of making some birdies on a smooth, extra receptive course.
Scheffler whips out from the grassy financial institution at 6 together with his lob wedge. He can solely ship his ball 15 ft previous the outlet. His roller coming again is at all times lacking excessive on the appropriate. Bogey. A cautious two-putt par for Conners. Up on 7, Koepka takes two putts for bogey. Just a little succour for Brooks: DeChambeau can’t make his birdie putt. All of a sudden, Corey Conners has a two-stroke lead.
-5: Conners (6)
-3: Rose (8), Koepka (7), Hovland (6), Suh (6)
-2: Scheffler (6)
Scottie Scheffler pulls his tee shot at 6 broad left. Then he pulls his second shot. He’s lucky to not dunk into Allens Creek, however his ball sits down in thick oomska on the financial institution and there’s not a lot inexperienced to work with over there. Also out of place: Brooks Koepka at 7. He pulls his drive in direction of the timber on the left, and is pressured to take his medication, punching out. He advances his third to the apron of the inexperienced, however he’ll want to empty an extended one if he’s to avoid wasting par. A great birdie likelihood for Bryson, although, who clips his second pin excessive to eight ft.
Justin Rose holes his third monster putt in a row! He trundles in a 35-footer on 8, and while you’re scorching, you’re scorching! He’s -3. Viktor Hovland in the meantime stops the rot with an up and down from a bunker at 6. Par. That would have been a third consecutive bogey in any other case. He stays at -3.
Michael Block, club-pro hero, appears in a spot of hassle as he follows up a double-bogey on the sixth by hacking his means up the seventh. But he curls in an enormous left-to-right par saver, and the gallery explodes in delight. He factors and smiles at a supporter within the crowd. He’s received loads of them. They’ve received his again. Tommy Fleetwood is a well-liked man as properly, and he soaks up some love on 18 as he pars to seal a high-quality round of 68. He’s +1 and positioned properly for a nothing-to-lose shy on the title tomorrow. Justin Thomas received from seven behind final 12 months, in any case.
-5: Conners (5)
-4: Koepka (6)
-3: Hovland (5), Suh (5), Scheffler (5)
-2: Rose (7), DeChambeau (6)
E: Lowry (10), Lee (9), Svensson (9), Pendrith (7)
+1: Fleetwood (F), Perez (16), Kitayama (15), Cole (13), McIlroy (10)
Corey Conners performs the par-three fifth conservatively, discovering the protected coronary heart of the inexperienced, a long way from the flag. He rolls his lengthy birdie putt six ft previous, however holds his nerve to knock within the one coming again. He stays within the lead at -5. Meanwhile on 6, DeChambeau splashes out from the bunker to 6 ft, however leaves the bogey putt excessive on the appropriate and can crash again to -2. Two protected putts for Brooks, although, and he stays at -4.
Bryson DeChambeau drops, then sends his third shot into the bunker to the appropriate of the inexperienced. Brooks Koepka in the meantime is on in regulation. Miles from the pin, however he’ll take that on a gap that’s seen 40 double-bogeys already this week. Meanwhile up on 7, Justin Rose rattles in one other lengthy putt, this time for birdie, and he rises to -2. If he can simply get his mojo working from the tee, the 2013 US Open champ might be onto one thing right here!
Bryson sends his tee shot into the drink down the appropriate of 6. A 3-putt bogey for Viktor Hovland at 5. Meanwhile up on 9, McIlroy makes it three bogeys in 4 holes, failing to stand up and down from the thick stuff along side the inexperienced. He’s +1 and all that early momentum has been spirited away.
-5: Conners (4)
-4: DeChambeau (5), Koepka (5)
-3: Hovland (5), Suh (5), Scheffler (4)
-1: Svensson (8), Rose (6)
Justin Rose has scrambled an above-average variety of pars this week, on account of driving like a comic. But none higher than this. He flays his tee shot on the treacherous sixth miles broad left, and may solely advance his second additional up the tough. But from 100 yards he muscle mass his third onto the inexperienced, then drains the 30-footer he leaves himself. He stays at -1, and if he finally ends up profitable this PGA, having hit a risibly low variety of fairways, it’ll be some of the astonishing sporting tales in a wee whereas. Come on Justin, make it so!
It’s back-to-back birdies for Brooks Koepka! He sends his tee shot on the par-three fifth to 12 ft, and pours within the putt. He’s now one off the lead … which is now solely held by Corey Conners, as a result of Viktor Hovland has hacked his means up the 4th, ending up with bogey. He didn’t hassle a single blade of grass on the golf green. Some occurring a 622-yard gap. Par for DeChambeau at 5, by the way, no imply feat since he flied the inexperienced together with his tee shot. A fragile lob wedge out of the tough saved his pores and skin.
-5: Conners (3)
-4: Koepka (5), DeChambeau (5), Hovland (4)
-3: Suh (4), Scheffler (3)
-1: Svensson (7), Rose (5), Pendrith (5)
Rory McIlroy can’t stand up and down from a greenside bunker at 8. He misses an eight-footer for par on the excessive aspect. The value of discovering heavy tough from the tee, and he’s given each of his early birdies again to the sector. He’s degree par once more. The one comfort: he’s made his two bogeys alongside the toughest stretch of the course. If you’ve received to do it someplace, do it there. We’re all about optimistic pondering round right here.
Unlike his enjoying associate, Brooks Koepka performs the lengthy par-five 4th within the fuss-free style. Two large cracks down the center, then a wedge from 100 yards to eight ft. In goes the straight putt, and that’s the 2018 and 2019 champion’s first birdie of the day. It’s the kind of day you’ll want to grind it out; is there a greater grinder in world golf thank Koepka? He’s -3.
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