(AFP)
Mito Pereira will take a three-shot lead on the final day of the PGA Championship at Southern Hills after overcoming a shaky corner to take the lead on Saturday. Pereira beat the last 69 card and stayed ahead of the overnight leader Will Zalatores and Matthew Fitzpatrick, who put himself in contention with his excellent 67th shot.
Rory McIlroy’s attempt to end his major drought suffered a major early blow. After a streak of five straight pars, McIlroy pulled his tee shot to third in the water and ran a five-double bogey to drop again to two sub-par. A triple bogey would follow him and although a string of birds helped, McIlroy then dropped another shot on the 18th to finish the day overall.
Earlier in the day, Tiger Woods recorded his worst result ever in the PGA Championship as a successful fight to make the cut took heavy losses at Southern Hills. Woods hit 79, his previous worst result in the US PGA being 77 in the first round in 2011. “I didn’t play well,” Woods said. “I didn’t hit the ball very well and came down so I didn’t need to start. I thought I hit a good starting point I dropped two and ended up in the water, not getting any kind of momentum on my part.”
After the end of the third day, he confirmed that Woods had withdrawn from the tournament and that the 46-year-old would not participate in the fourth round.
Follow all the action on what promises to be one last, intriguing day, below:
Zalatoris in trouble
Will Zalatoris runs sixth and seems to pick a club a lot as he packs it through the back of the green, onto the road and into the woods. That may be off limits.
Cameron Young also passes to the back but keeps the ball in play.
Michael JonesMay 22 2022 20:44
Eagle hit for Zalatoris
Two great shots on the 5 par-5 from Will Zalatoris lays it down with an eagle shot from the front of the green. He finds the correct line but has no legs.
In the same hole, Cameron Young slips on his eagle which he has passed the left side of the hole but taps on the bird to move to (-6).
Zlatoris follows him into the cup in exchange for a share of lead (-8).
Michael JonesMay 22 2022 20:39
Byrdie Fitzpatrick
Matt Fitzpatrick turned 4th back to (-6) where the day started. He’s just two shots off the lead now.
(AFP)
Michael JonesMay 22 2022 20:31
Purdy chance for Fitzpatrick
On day four, Matt Fitzpatrick has a great opportunity to pull the ball back after a superb shot and chip to make it within a few feet of the hole. That should knock but Mito Pereira also has a chance for the next bird.
The leader is nine feet away, and the hit is moving slightly from right to left. It starts out wide and isn’t round enough for it to rest on an equal footing.
Michael JonesMay 22 2022 20:29
Big engine from McIlroy
Rory McIlroy cuts the corner at 12 with a 340-yard drive to leave 73 yards on the green. From that distance, his shot wasn’t the best but he’s giving himself another birdie chance. This guy needs to get in to give Rory some confidence heading into par-5 13.
Michael JonesMay 22 2022 20:25
Zalatoris makes a bird
Three straight seasons gets him off to a good start but things are getting better for Will Zalatoris as he knocks in at five feet for a birdie in fourth.
He struggled with that distance yesterday but seems to be getting his form again with the racket.
(Getty Images)
Michael JonesMay 22 2022 20:23
Shot!
And now then. Mito Pereira regresses to a level eight underground after placing his foot on the third rolls around the back of the hole and its lips. Is the door open to the chase?
Matt Fitzpatrick (-5) knocks his shot down equally firmly. It’s been a good response from him since stealing on the first hole.
Michael JonesMay 22 2022 20:18
Potts don’t fall for McIlroy
Rory has 30 feet on the 11th day birdie and sends him down the right lane but the gas runs out of him a few inches before the hole.
A potentially tricky chip was passed to Pereira to five to six feet away by the leader. He will have that equal blow in the third.
Michael JonesMay 22 2022 20:15
Pereira in trouble in the third
Mito Pereira is in the rough stuff from a tee on the third hole. He got 189 yards to the green and whipped her left and pulled her up and away from the dance floor. Up and down to save equal.
Fitzpatrick is on the dance floor but once again leaves himself to Birds.
Michael JonesMay 22 2022 20:12
Fault from Mito
Mito Pereira’s shot on the third tee found the trees on the right, the Chilean’s first miss of the day.
After equalizing on the last slot, Matt Fitzpatrick (-5) is in the starting position for third with a booming engine down the right side of the lane.
Rory McIlroy (-3) equalizes in 10th as does Cameron Young (-5) who tracks and practices stealth in one and birdie on two with par in third.
Michael JonesMay 22 2022 20:08
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