And with only a month to qualify, he could make up for a lot of stale golf at the final major of the year, where points are worth double. However, the weather forecast for Sunday includes a chance for rain most of the day.
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American Kevin Kisner was the best of the players to finish round three, carding an impressive five-under 65 to move to five under for the tournament, tied for sixth.
The 2005 PGA Championship ended on Monday at the course because of rain.
Round three of the US PGA Championship at Baltusrol, New Jersey was suspended at 19:15 BST on Saturday because of the threat of lightning.
Whether the great scoring conditions remain on the waterlogged course when play finally resumes is yet to be seen. A gloomy forecast for Sunday raised the possibility that the season’s final major might have to be extended to a fifth day. “They are all good players and it was just a matter of time”.
The last group of the fourth is scheduled to begin at 3:25 p.m. – if there are no more delays.
Francesco Molinari knows how to close out a round of golf.
But Day has stressed to himself to be patient around Baltusrol, which offers two par-5 holes at the finish, neither of which he has managed to birdie despite his impressive run of seven birdies in eight holes on Friday. Eighteen players went birdie-birdie or better on the two holes with Lee Westwood going one shot better with a birdie on the 649-yard 17th and an eagle on the 554-yard 18th.
The last time Mickelson won a major – or any other PGA Tour event – was the 2013 Open Championship.
Marc Leishman returned to face a 12-foot birdie putt on No. 18 that he left short.
Lahiri got off to a poor start by getting bogeys on the par-four holes of first and third.
“Tee to green was good, but it was just pathetic when I got onto the green.” said McIlroy.
Unheralded Robert Streb became the 28th player to match the record low of 63 at a major in Friday’s second round on the rain-softened, par-70 layout to share the midway lead with fellow American Jimmy Walker at nine-under. Mickelson and Henrik Stenson shots 63s this month in the British Open. Former PGA champion Padraig Harrington also shot a 65 and was at 206, with Russell Knox at 207 after a 67.
Walker, despite two adventurous closing holes, shot a 4-under 66.
Sunday – TNT 11 a.m. -2 p.m.; CBS 2-7 p.m.
A man jumps over a puddle on the 18th hole at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J., Saturday. Streb was also impressive in the second round with a sparkling seven-under 63.
Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, victor of the British Open earlier this month, is alone in fifth place at six-under 134.
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Walker gave no indication of playing major championship golf this year, finishing tied for 29th at the Masters and missing the cut at both Opens.
