Having passed away last September, Palmer’s memory and his love for golf hung over the tournament all week.
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Leishman, who was one adrift, jumped into the lead at the par-5 16th when he reached the green in two and then sank his eagle stunner to leapfrog the leaders and take the top spot at 11-under.
Playing in a group with Rory McIlroy and Palmer’s grandson, Sam Saunders, Snedeker shot an even par 72 in Thursday’s opening round, which was good enough to put him among the top 30.
McIlroy felt much the same way despite falling 2 shots short of victory.
CHARLEY HOFFMAN finished round three strongly and the four-time US Tour champion is a serious title contender.
“I needed to finish tied 5th this week to get my temporary membership and although today was pretty disappointing in some ways, to get my temporary membership is really good”, he said.
McIlroy had been tied for the lead standing on the final tee but walked off with a three-putt bogey in a three under par 69 and two shots behind Aussie giant Marc Leishman.
“But I feel like all year it’s been really close and I just haven’t played how I wanted to on Sundays”.
But Leishman would steady the ship with birdies at the 4th and 6th holes before another at the 10th had him on the heels of the leaders.
The 22-year-old Fitzpatrick is seeking his first career US PGA Tour victory. In the U.S. Women’s Open in July, she lost a three-hole playoff to Brittany Lang after being penalized two strokes for touching the sand with her club in a fairway bunker on the second extra hole. It was the kind of tight finish Palmer would have savored.
Vikki Laing, who turned 36 earlier in the week, was next best among the Scots with a level-par 73 to sit joint-29th.
Kisner had a three-shot lead at the turn, but he didn’t make a birdie over his last 11 holes. “To have (wife) Audrey and the boys here to be able to run out on the green … it all came together”. He has easily been the most improved player so far this season and was unfortunate not to have a hole-in-one when his tee shot hit the flat at 17. It came with hard-earned perspective on golf and life.
“Around here, things can change so quick”, Leishman told NBC’s Steve Sands after the round. I want to do it well, but it makes it less important.
Just how good was Fowler feeling? To honour him was huge.
Completing his final round with a three-foot tap-in for par, Marc Leishman secured this unexpected victory at the 2017 Arnold Palmer Invitational.
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One that will send him back to the Masters with a new perspective on that as well.
