Australia’s Jason Day has had a nightmare third spherical on the PGA Tour Championship, carding a four-over 74 to tumble out of rivalry for the $18 million USD winner’s prize.
Day had bogeys on the par-four fourth and fifth holes, earlier than a double-bogey on the par-four eighth when he discovered the water off the tee. One other bogey on the ninth noticed him five-over on the flip.
He slipped to six-over with one other bogey on the par-three fifteenth, earlier than lastly turning issues round late in his spherical.
He picked up birdies on 16 and 18 to complete four-over with a 74, transferring him to even-par for the match and third-last within the 30-man discipline.
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In the meantime, Viktor Hovland shrugged off extreme warmth and a storm delay to grab a six-stroke lead.
The 25-year-old Norwegian fired a four-under par 66 to face on 20-under after 54 holes at East Lake in Atlanta with American Xander Schauffele a distant second.
“I can’t bear in mind (when) I’ve led by that many pictures,” Hovland mentioned. Temperatures soared close to 100 levels (37.7 Celsius) earlier than a late-round storm stoppage, however neither climate nor rivals may sluggish fifth-ranked Hovland, who received final week’s BMW Championship and have become the person to beat for the highest prize.
“I don’t suppose I’ve ever performed this nicely earlier than, with this stretch, simply placing all of the brief recreation and stuff collectively,” Hovland mentioned.
“I really feel like I’ve hit the ball higher than I’ve this week and even final week, but it surely’s nearly placing all of it collectively and it appeared like the nice weeks that I’ve had earlier than I’ve all the time managed to short-side myself or chip a pair instances and find yourself out of rivalry.
“This 12 months I really feel like I’ve simply develop into somewhat bit extra full, and I don’t should hit it my greatest to be in rivalry. I don’t should hit each shot pure. I can miss it barely and get up-and-down and transfer on.”
Individuals Collin Morikawa and Keegan Bradley shared third on 13-under with Masters champion Jon Rahm of Spain sharing fifth on 11-under with top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and his US countryman Wyndham Clark, the US Open champion.
Beginning scores within the FedEx Cup playoff finale have been staggered based mostly on season factors, with top-ranked Scheffler at 10-under, Hovland subsequent at 8-under and rivals at lesser ranges.
Hovland shot 68 and 64 to share the lead after the primary and second rounds, aided by the distinctive format.
Now he longs to affix such previous Cup winners as Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy.
“To win the FedEx Cup is fairly cool,” Hovland mentioned. “The record of names that’s been on that trophy is fairly particular.
“It will be superior to have my title on there.”
Tokyo Olympic champion Schauffele, who has by no means fired an over-par spherical at East Lake, shot 68 whereas Hovland made 5 birdies in opposition to a lone bogey.
“I must exit and attempt to put as a lot strain on him tomorrow on that entrance 9 as I can and hope for the perfect,” Schauffele mentioned.
“He has simply taking part in unbelievable golf. He has been working actually exhausting. I noticed him working exhausting by means of the playoffs. I used to be out late and he was one of many guys I all the time noticed till darkish as nicely. So, no shock.”
Hovland was about to tee off on the twelfth with a four-stroke lead when a storm halted play for 75 minutes.
When he resumed, Hovland discovered the green and inexperienced then hit a 10-foot birdie putt and adopted by sinking a 22-foot birdie putt at 13 to succeed in 20-under and lead Schauffele by six.
Hovland took his first bogey at 14, discovering the left tough and pitching to the inexperienced then lacking a 22-foot par putt from the perimeter.
Schauffele answered a bogey on the par-3 fifteenth with a 12-foot birdie putt at 16 to remain 5 adrift however Hovland responded with a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-3 fifteenth, stretching the lead again to 6.
Hovland lipped out on a seven-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th however nonetheless matched the most important 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour this season.
It’s additionally the identical margin McIlroy rallied from on Sunday final 12 months to defeat Scheffler and win the Tour Championship.
Morikawa, who hadn’t made a bogey all week, shared the lead with Hovland at 16-under till a double bogey on the par-4 fifth.
Hovland birdied the par-5 sixth from three ft and sank a birdie putt at seven from simply past 11 ft to seize a four-stroke edge on the flip.
Morikawa, a two-time main winner, and Scheffler every fired 73 to fall again. Rahm and McIlroy every fell again with 71s, McIlroy tumbling 11 adrift.