British Open champion Henrik Stenson shot his third consecutive 67 to hold down third place at 9-under 201 with Brooks Koepka, who carded a 66. The last time that happened was 2011.
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Both players will head back out onto soggy Baltusrol in just a few hours, with officials electing not to re-pair before the final round in an attempt to complete the event on schedule. We could have more of the same bad weather today, of course – there’s a fair chance the 98th PGA Championship will stretch into Monday, or even Tuesday – so nothing is set in stone.
Consider his opportunities to advance on leader Jimmy Walker. With Walker at 11 under, Scott could have been a stroke off the lead had he avoided the flubs. He and nine others had to play their entire third round Sunday morning after heavy rains forced a suspension of play on Saturday.
Stenson’s win in the British Open was the first major championship of his career, and back-to-back wins in the British Open and PGA Championship would put him in the driver’s seat when it comes to claiming Golfer of the Year honors.
Jordan Spieth was at one under through 14 holes, five under and six strokes back of the lead.
Kerry Haigh, the PGA of America’s chief championships officer, had said on Saturday night that it would be “very unlikely” the tournament would use preferred lies.
Sunday figures to be a long day at the PGA Championship at the Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey. While he is not one of the more well-known players, he excelled on the big stage during the second round. Walker, meanwhile, is trying to become the fourth first-time major champion this year.
Sharing fifth on 203 were Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and Americans William McGirt and Robert Streb, who on Friday matched the record low major round with a 63. He shot 67 and was at 3 under, but even the two putts he hit were enough to indicate that the greens were softer and slower than usual.
Walker, who reached the par-five 18th in two at water-logged Baltusrol, posted a two-under 68 for an 11-under total of 199. That puts him at nine-under for the entire PGA Championship and two shots off the pace. Last year, Day won the 2015 PGA Championship at Whistling Straights.
None of them managed to start their third rounds Saturday due to thunderstorms that stopped play with only 37 of 86 players able to finish, but some made a charge before the storm – American Kevin Kisner fired a 65 to seize the 54-hole clubhouse lead at 205.
“I played some really good golf”, Day said.
By the time the leaders began their final rounds, Grace was firmly in contention at nine-under following some sparkling iron play.
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Players will be allowed to lift, clean and place their balls under the ruling.
