Tommy Fleetwood faces one more nervy evening’s sleep because the Englishman holds a one-shot lead with a maiden PGA Tour title in sight as Jason Day is about to be the one Australian to advance to the following part of the FedEx Cup playoffs.
Fleetwood (-14) started the third spherical with a three-shot lead however a one-under par spherical of 69 diminished the hole from countryman Justin Rose (-13).
Rose even took a two-shot lead at one level as he began his spherical on fireplace with 4 birdies in 5 holes from holes three to seven on his approach to a 67, whereas Fleetwood stumbled early with a double bogey on the par 5 third.
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The pair had been sipping wine in Portugal collectively every week in the past, and now will face off within the last group for a second straight spherical after Rose birdied the final as Fleetwood bogeyed to scale back the hole.
It’s not a two-horse race, nonetheless, with world No.1 Scottie Scheffler (-12) respiration down their necks.
The Open and US PGA champion is chasing a fifth win in 9 begins and gave himself a very good probability to take action with a five-under par spherical of 65.
US Open champion J.J. Spaun (-11) additionally shot a 65 – the equal low spherical of the day alongside Scheffler, Taylor Pendrith and Xander Schauffele.
Spaun sits alongside Andrew Novak in a share of fourth, and after Oakmont, Spaun too boasts last spherical pedigree to heap the stress on Fleetwood.
The world No.15 had a extra comfy three shot buffer at the start of the ultimate spherical on the Vacationers Championship in June.
Fleetwood then shot a two-over par 72 with a bogey on the final sealing his destiny as US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley snatched victory with a birdie in the identical group.
A breakthrough win for the 34-year-old would proceed a PGA Tour development this yr of gamers overcoming their winless droughts.
Cameron Younger claimed his first Tour title at final week’s Wyndham Championship after seven runner-up finishes.
Brian Campbell gained for the primary time after 187 begins throughout the PGA Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour on the Mexico Open in February.
For Fleetwood, ending the job would imply including an eleventh win worldwide to his resume, however he has by no means lifted a trophy on the first US Tour after a number of close to misses.
He has twice completed runner-up in a serious (2018 US Open and 2019 Open Championship) and boasts an Olympic silver medal.
In Tour occasions, he misplaced in a playoff on the Canadian Open in 2023 in addition to runner-up finishes on the 2017 WGC – Mexico Championship and the Vacationers Championship earlier this yr.
Fleetwood has been profitable sufficient to build up greater than US$30 million (A$45.97m) on the PGA Tour however he’s the one participant to take action and not using a win.
“Yeah, I simply suppose I’d manner relatively be there and fail than not be there in any respect,” Fleetwood stated.
“So both manner, like, it’s a very good factor. Yeah, it hurts when it doesn’t occur for you and that form of streak, in case you like, and folks discuss it increasingly more, that goes on.
“Clearly it’s not my favourite time, like strolling off the 18th at that time. However I apply so exhausting at my recreation, and I work so exhausting and I take pleasure in being out right here 4 days like this, Sunday going tomorrow, and all of the instances if you’re fortieth place going into Sunday, thirtieth, twentieth, you might need an ideal day and also you would possibly really feel good, however it’s simply not the identical as being in competition.
“As I say, I simply look ahead to the alternatives and proceed to provide myself an opportunity in chasing my desires, and whether or not they occur or not tomorrow or the following week or the week after, that’s one other story. However I’m wanting ahead to it nonetheless.”
In the meantime, Cam Davis (-2) is the most effective positioned of the Australians on the leaderboard after he shot a three-under par third spherical of 67.
Davis jumped 14 locations on the leaderboard to a share of thirty eighth, however his place within the FedEx Cup standings has solely improved one spot from 69th to 68th.
With the highest 50 progressing to subsequent week’s BMW Championship, Davis’ season is all however over.
So too is Min Woo Lee’s.
The 27-year-old began the week on the bubble in fiftieth place within the standings, however has languished on the backside of the leaderboard in spite of everything three rounds.
Lee is +10 after a second straight spherical of 72.
Day is about to be the one Australian nonetheless in motion subsequent week, however he has executed his possibilities of reaching the Tour Championship a disservice.
The previous world No.1 is even par general after a 3rd spherical 71, and his playoff place has slipped from thirty seventh to forty first with the highest 30 after the BMW Championship progressing to the season finale the place the winner pockets US$10 million (A$15.3m).