Scheffler leads the Tour Championship by 5 strokes after the third round

Scottie Scheffler leads Collin Morikawa by five strokes after third round of the Tour Championship on Saturday at East Lake Golf Club, pending the final day this Sunday. The winner will take home the FedEx Cup and a $25 million prize.

After a slow start to the day, Scheffler He made birdies on holes 14, 16, 17 and 18 to sign a 66 of 5 under par and increase his lead over Morikawa (67). Scheffler was 26 under par heading into Sunday and had no reason to change what worked for him.

“Keep doing what I’m doing“stay in the moment, be patient,” Scheffler said. aim at the keys to try to win. “I’ve bogeyed the first hole two of the last three days, and the two times I’ve bogeyed the first hole I haven’t bogeyed after that, so that’s a good boost for me.”

The world number one arrives at the Tour Championship leading the race for the FedEx Cup for the third year in a row. Scheffler was defeated for the title by Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland in 2022 and Victor Hovland from Norway in 2023.

But now, he is putting the finishing touches one of the best seasons in history recent PGA Tour. Yes Scheffler after work on Sunday, will become the first player to win seven times in a season since Tiger Woods in 2007.

The tournament isn’t over yet. Scheffler blew a six stroke lead against McIlroy on the last day of the Tour Championship 2022.

“It’s disappointing every time I don’t win,” he recalled. Scheffler. “I feel like two years ago I had a good chance to win, but I couldn’t do it. Last year I came close and I think I had some bad last rounds.”

At 21 under par, Morikawa remains his closest pursuer.

“It wasn’t exactly the exciting day that I needed, but I knew this whole week that I needed something special to come out on top and I needed something very special,” said the two-time major champions. . “But I believe in myself, and I hope that comes out (Sunday).”

Scheffler He bogeyed the first hole and didn’t make a putt longer than 5 feet in his first six holes. Morikawawho started the day on the back four, closed to within two when he birdied the par-5 sixth hole.

But the seventh hole represents a key two-shot swing. Scheffler He finally pulled off a birdie putt, a slow left-to-right putt from 15 feet, and the 3 1/2-foot par putt. Morikawa he went out.

The pair both birdied the 8th hole and remained quiet until the final stage. Then Scheffler made a birdie on the 14th hole, Morikawa hit the best tee shot of the day on the par-3 15th hole, leaving him 3 feet 3 inches away for birdie while Scheffler made par

But Scheffler He escaped from a fairway bunker on the 16th hole and holed a 24-foot putt, in the middle of the cup, to extend the lead to five. He and Morikawa They birdied each of the last two holes.

“On some of these holes… if we’re both on the fairway and you have a wedge, you’re going to see some great shots,” he said. Morikawa. “It’s a good thing if he hits one, I’m close and vice versa. “I just hope to get some swings (Sunday). I need to start making putts. I have to put everything (on Sunday). “It is what it is”.

Xander Schauffele He started the day in third place at 16 under and only carded an even-par 71. Sahith Theegala He edged him for third place, birdying his last five holes and seven of his last eight for a 66 to jump to 17 under par.

The score of Theegala It could be even lower. On his third hole, he self-reported a violation after sand moved on his backswing into a bunker, turning a par into a double bogey. Rules officials reviewed the incident with Theegala after the round, and there is no conclusive evidence to overturn the penalty.

“I play a lot of golf,” he said Theegala. “So much of your life is staring at the position you’re in, the ball where you’re at, and it’s not like a normal shot from a fairway bunker. I feel like that part of the sand is moving. At the end of the day , “I’m happy with the decision and I think it’s very fair that they gave me two blows.”

Wyndham Clark (68) and Adam Scott (68) from Australia tied for fifth place at 15 under par, while Sam Burns (68) transferred to 14 under par.

Shane Lowry of Ireland carded a 6-under 65 with seven birdies to rise to 13 under par, equal Hovland (10 under par) in the lowest round of the day. Lowry He made birdie putts from 45 and 25 feet away.

“I’ve worked a lot here on the big putting green in my speed drills,” he said. Lowrywho is playing in his first Tour Championship. “It’s been going pretty well. I feel like I’ve made some good putts in the second half of the season. It’s nice to see some long putts go in.”