LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Moving day at the PGA Championship saw plenty of action as top golfers climbed the leaderboard during the third round at Valhalla Golf Club. Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa share the lead at 15-under-par, but six players are within two shots of the lead, and 15 will begin Sunday’s round at 10-under or better.
Schauffele overcame a double-bogey at No. 15 and finished his round with back-to-back birdies to post a 3-under-par 68. Morikawa shot a 67 to join Schauffele at the top. “A lot of guys took it low to climb their way up,” Morikawa said. “I assume tomorrow is going to be the same.”
Sahith Theegala shot 67 and is one shot back at 14-under, while Shane Lowry tied the course and PGA record with a 62, putting him at 13-under alongside Bryson DeChambeau and Viktor Hovland. Justin Rose and Robert MacIntyre are another shot back at 12-under heading into the final day.
“There’s blood in the water,” Schauffele said, reflecting on the crowded leaderboard. “There are so many guys on that leaderboard there,” added Hovland.
Sunday’s final round will begin at 7:45 a.m. local time, with the final pairing of Schauffele and Morikawa teeing off at 2:35 p.m. This marks just the second time since 2005 that six players were within two shots of the lead at the PGA Championship. Additionally, according to Elias Sports Bureau, this tournament features the most players starting the final round of a major at double digits under par, surpassing the previous record of seven.
Morikawa, who had one bogey on the second hole, made birdies on Nos. 3, 5, 10, 15, and 18. The two-time major champion is focusing on maintaining mental sharpness: “I think the goal for me tonight before my tee time is just to be as mentally sharp by that first hole. Tomorrow is just going to put everything I have out there and see how it plays out.”
Schauffele, who had nine birdies during his opening-round 62, reached 15-under with three birdies in his first 14 holes before hitting a rough patch on the par-4 15th. He recovered with birdies on Nos. 17 and 18. “Everything felt super easy [the first round]. I’ve had to work for a lot of my birdies the last two days. If I can just get the putter going a little bit, it should free me up,” Schauffele said.
Theegala recovered from bogeys at Nos. 5 and 6 to make six birdies in his final 10 holes, posting a 67 and pulling within one shot of the lead with a birdie at No. 18.
Lowry, the 2019 Open champion, matched the lowest round ever in any of the four majors with his 62. He was 29th heading into the third round and shot a 29 on the front nine, making four straight birdies at Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 5. However, he missed an 11-foot putt for a birdie at 18, which would have given him a 61. “Probably the most disappointed anyone can ever be shooting 62. I knew what was at stake,” Lowry said.
DeChambeau chipped in for eagle at No. 18 to reach 13-under, while Hovland made birdies at Nos. 17 and 18.
The weather is expected to be in the 80s and sunny on Sunday, setting the stage for a thrilling finish at Valhalla.
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