Shane Lowry matched the bottom spherical in main golf historical past on Saturday, capturing a nine-under par 62 within the third spherical of the PGA Championship and leaping into rivalry at Valhalla the place a $AUD29 million prize awaits the winner.
The 37-year-old Irishman tied the mark achieved 4 prior occasions, most lately in Thursday’s first spherical by American Xander Schauffele, who closed with back-to-back birdies to shoot 68 and share the 54-hole lead with fellow American Collin Morikawa on 15-under 198 and Sahith Theegala third on 199.
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World quantity three Schauffele, in search of his first main title, made double bogey at 15 however tap-in birdies at 17 and 18 saved him on the prime.
“Bouncing again was large. It’s good to have a share of the lead at the least,” Schauffele stated.
“Want to remain in my lane, hold doing what I’m doing and hope it’s sufficient.”
Lowry’s bogey-free spherical left the 2019 British Open champion, who started the day eight pictures adrift, on 200 with American Bryson DeChambeau and Norway’s Viktor Hovland.
“I’m going to need to hold going,” Lowry stated.
“Loads of guys are taking part in nice golf. The course is gettable. And such as you see right this moment any individual can come from method behind.
“I’m going to exit tomorrow and see if can get that trophy.”
Different 62s have been made by Schauffele and American Rickie Fowler within the first spherical ultimately 12 months’s US Open and the 2017 British Open by South African Branden Grace.
Lowry birdied eight of the primary 14 holes, sank birdie putts of 37 ft at 13 and 32 ft on the par-3 14th and one from simply outdoors six ft at 17 to construct the drama.
“I felt like I used to be simply going to maintain making birdies,” Lowry stated. “I simply saved rolling them in. I received off to a fantastic begin.”
At 18, Lowry had a birdie putt from simply inside 12 ft for 61 however missed, saying, “It has been a very long time since I’ve seen this so I’m not going to complain.”
Schauffele birdied from simply inside 4 ft on the par-5 seventh — his first birdie in 15 holes — and added others from simply outdoors 21 ft on the par-5 tenth and simply inside 30 ft on the par-3 14th.
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Tokyo Olympic champion Schauffele has not received any occasion because the 2022 Scottish Open, having had 19 top-10 PGA Tour finishes within the practically two years since.
Two-time main winner Morikawa began with a bogey however a 30-foot chip-in birdie on the third and a closing 10-foot birdie putt saved him stage with Schauffele.
Theegala birdied six of the final 10 holes, a tap-in at 18 holding him one adrift.
“I do know my sport is nice sufficient to compete,” Theegala stated. “I’m going to need to play my butt off.”
A contender who pale was world primary Scottie Scheffler, who fired a two-over 73 — his first over-par spherical of the 12 months — a day after being arrested. He stood on 206, eight adrift.
Scheffler, 27, faces costs of felony assault of a police officer, prison mischief, reckless driving and disregarding indicators from an officer directing site visitors.
“I positively didn’t really feel like myself however yesterday occurred and I got here out and did my greatest,” he stated.
Scheffler stumbled early with a double bogey on the par-5 second and bogeys at three and 4. Scheffler birdied the fifth and 18th however after three different birdies he made a bogey on the following gap.
“Robust day. Received off to a tricky begin,” he stated.
“Was battling all day however appeared to comply with each birdie with a bogey. Method too many errors. Fairly annoyed with the day.”
As for the main Australian contenders, Herbert stays the person to beat having gone 3-under to sit down in a share of sixteenth at 9-under total.
Herbert had one bogey on the sixth however was in any other case unblemised with a quartet of birdies to take care of his robust begin to the match, having earned a particular invitation to the occasion.
Elsewhere, Jason Day hit 2-under on the day to maneuver up three spots to a share for twenty sixth at 6-under total, with Min Woo Lee and Cameron Smith each tied for thirty eighth after going 1-under for the spherical.
Smith made a robust begin to the day as he holed out for eagle on the seventh gap to maneuver to 6-under however pale late with three bogeys in 4 holes earlier than a birdie to complete issues on the 18th.
Adam Scott and Cam Davis, in the meantime, did not make the 1-under minimize set on Saturday.
Jordan Spieth, needing a victory to finish a profession Grand Slam, birdied three of the final 4 holes to shoot 67 and stand on eight-under 205.
Additionally on 205 was second-ranked Rory McIlroy, a four-time main winner who filed for divorce from spouse Erica on Monday. McIlroy shot 68.
PGA CHAMPIONSHIP: TOP OF THE LEADERBOARD
T1: Xander Schauffele -15
T1: Collin Morikawa -15
3: Sahith Theegala -14
T4: Shane Lowry -13
T4: Bryson DeChambeau -13
T4: Viktor Hovland -13
AUSTRALIANS IN ACTION
T16: Lucas Herbert -9
T29: Jason Day -6
T38: Cameron Smith -5
T38: Min Woo Lee -5
T108: Adam Scott +3 — minimize
T133: Cam Davis +7 — minimize
ROUND THREE BLOG