Xander Schauffele made seven birdies in a bogey-free third spherical to grab a one-stroke lead over reigning US Open champion Wyndham Clark at The Gamers Championship on Sunday (AEDT).
Reigning Olympic champion Schauffele fired a seven-under par 65 to face on 17-under 199 by way of 54 holes on the $4.5 million US PGA Tour occasion on TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Seaside, Florida.
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“Simply form of made it work,” Schauffele mentioned.
“I solely hit two fairways on the again 9 so feels good. It’s good to maneuver up the leaderboard.” Schauffele started the day 4 adrift of chief Clark however was 6-for-6 getting up and down, sank a 58-foot birdie putt at 14, pulled forward when Clark made bogey on the par-3 seventeenth island gap and saved a clutch par at 18.
“Whenever you’re attempting to compete out right here, you need to have some issues go your means, like that 58-footer,” Schauffele mentioned.
“Obtained to scrub up the small issues.”
Schauffele, whose most up-to-date victory got here on the 2022 Scottish Open, mentioned profitable his eighth profession PGA title “would imply so much to me.”
“It has been some time since I’ve had the lead out right here,” Schauffele mentioned.
“Simply going to attempt to take pleasure in myself and remind myself I’m ok to win.”
Clark struggled to a 70 after opening with back-to-back 65s.
“It was form of my off day,” Clark mentioned.
“I missed a pair putts early and a wedge on 17 however outdoors of that I believed I performed fairly strong.
“I like the place I’m at. I’m hoping I flip the script and have a Xander spherical tomorrow.” Reigning British Open champion Brian Harman was third on 201 after a scorching 64 with England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and American Maverick McNealy sharing fourth on 203.
World primary Scottie Scheffler, the defending champion battling a neck harm, shot 68 with birdies on the final three holes to face on 204.
“Put up an excellent struggle final couple days,” Scheffler mentioned. “Don’t really feel like I’m out of the event. Had a pleasant end to maintain myself in it.” Fifth-ranked Clark, who gained his third profession PGA title final month at Pebble Seaside, battled down the again 9 in an all-US struggle for the lead.
They have been deadlocked on the 14th when Schauffele sank his 58-foot stunner to grab the lead alone at 17-under.
Clark answered by reaching the inexperienced in two on the par-5 sixteenth and tapping in for birdie whereas Schauffele discovered the suitable tough and a left greenside bunker however salvaged par.
At 17, Clark splashed into the water effectively in need of the inexperienced earlier than touchdown a second tee shot six ft from the opening and making his bogey putt whereas Schauffele’s ball clung on the perimeter and he two-putted for par to revive his one-stroke edge.
“I chunked it. It was consumer error,” Clark mentioned. “That was unlucky. Making a birdie from there (for a bogey whole on the opening) was large and I feel saved me within the event.” At 18, Schauffele was within the tough in need of the inexperienced however blasted out inches from the opening and tapped in for par.
“That par on 18 was large for me,” Schauffele mentioned.
Clark mentioned he wants higher focus within the closing spherical.
“I hope my thoughts is a bit more targeted,” Clark mentioned. “I used to be a bit aloof, actually simply being current, not worrying about scoring. I’m hoping I’m actually laser-locked in and may throw a fantastic spherical at Xander.” Clark birdied the primary and seventh holes whereas Schauffele birdied three of the primary six holes.
Clark made a bogey on the par-3 eighth, lacking a six-foot par putt, and Schauffele sank a birdie putt from simply inside 5 ft on the par-5 ninth to drag inside one on the flip.
Schauffele sank a birdie putt from simply past 10 ft on the twelfth to seize a share of the lead.