Scottie Scheffler takes five-shot lead into final round of Tour Championship
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Scottie Scheffler hitting his shot from the 17th tee during the third round of the Tour Championship on Aug 31.
PHOTO: AFP
MIAMI – World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler remains on course to complete his remarkable season with the US$25 million (S$32.7 million) FedExCup title, heading into the Sept 1 final round of the season-ending Tour Championship with a five-stroke lead.
Fellow American Collin Morikawa failed to close the gap on Scheffler in the third round on Aug 31, making a four-under 67 at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, while Scheffler posted a 66.
Masters champion and Olympic gold medallist Scheffler began the week on 10 under with a two-shot lead over Xander Schauffele based on the staggered scoring system used for the season finale, which determines the FedExCup play-off winner.
Morikawa, who started six strokes behind the favourite, has managed to reduce the gap by just one shot over three rounds.
Scheffler, with his eye on a seventh win on the PGA Tour this season, has shown no signs of opening the door.
He offered a glimmer of hope when he bogeyed the par-four first hole, where he missed a 12-foot par putt after driving into the rough to the right.
But that was the only blemish on the 28-year-old’s scorecard and his finish – with birdies on four of the last five holes, including the last three – sent a clear signal of his intent for the final round, which was ongoing at press time.
“Keep doing what I’ve been doing, staying in the moment, staying patient out there.
“I’ve bogeyed the first hole two of the last three days and both times I didn’t make any bogeys after that. So that’s kind of good momentum for me,” said Scheffler.
Morikawa had to wait until the par-five sixth hole for his opening birdie but cancelled it out with a bogey on the next hole.
But he also finished strongly with three birdies from the 15th onwards, including the 17th and 18th.
“Solid. Not exactly the moving day that I needed, but I knew this entire week I was going to need something special to come out on top and I’m going to need something very special,” said Morikawa.
“I just hope to have some swings (in the fourth round).
“I’ve got to start making putts. I’ve got to make everything. It is what it is.”
Another American Sahith Theegala (66) is third, nine strokes behind Scheffler.
Schauffele (71), the British Open and PGA Championship winner this season, is a further shot back in fourth. AFP
