Phil Mickelson walked off the first green with a disgusted look on his face, as if he’d thrown away any shot at making the cut in the PGA Championship.
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Three birdies over his second nine gave him his second successive 67 and the inside track to a second successive major title.
Walker’s birdies put him at 13 under for the tournament.
However, the forecast ranged from a 50 per cent to 90 per cent chance of thunderstorms in the 12-hour period between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., raising the distinct possibility of a Monday finish.
Kevin Kisner of the United States and Ireland’s Padraig Harrington took advantage of Saturday’s favorable playing conditions to make strides up the leaderboard at the PGA Championship. His 17-under 267 at the British Open was eclipsed only by Henrik Stenson’s major-championship, record-setting, 20-under 264.
“I think [the major record of 63] will be broke [n] in the next two days”, Mickelson reiterated.
Kerry Kaigh, the chief championship officer for the PGA of America, said there were three cells of risky weather.
Robert Streb and Jimmy Walker remain joint leaders at nine-under-par despite not striking a ball Saturday.
Others in the afternoon wave included world number one and defending champion Jason Day (68), Phil Mickelson (71) and Rory McIlroy (74).
The hope is to avoid a similar fate, but Saturday’s rain set up a sprint to finish before sunset Sunday.
“I played a tentative round”.
Walker and Streb held the lead after Friday’s first round at 9-under-par 131.
McIlroy could not recover from a horrific opening round and missed the cut by one stroke having nearly recovered with a second round 69.
Baltusrol has surrendered four major 63s, the most of any course, and the PGA has given up 14 63s in all, as many as the U.S. and British Opens combined.
Walker shot a 2-under 68 for an 11-under 199 total after three soggy trips around Baltusrol Golf Club. They both shot 4-under 66s to get to 2 under, seven shots back of the leaders who have yet to start their third rounds.
The fourth round began at 8:40 a.m. and there will be no re-pairings because of that. Day won a year ago at Whistling Straits. Harrington didn’t even think he played that well and still shot a 65, his lowest ever in a PGA Championship.
Play will resume at 7 a.m.to complete the third round. Walker and Streb were scheduled to begin their final rounds at 3:16 p.m.
It should yield a few more birdies, but also stay patient with regards to the weather, just keep yourself mentally intact.
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The third round of the PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club has been called for the day after almost four hours of play being suspended by risky weather including a lot of heavy rain.
