Sepp Straka leads by one after 54 holes at Pebble Beach Pro-Am
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Sepp Straka is at 16 under and will take a one-stroke lead into Feb 2.
PHOTO: AFP
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PEBBLE BEACH – Austria’s Sepp Straka has a slight edge going to the final round of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, but others are lurking.
The 31-year-old recovered from a rough stretch at the start of the back nine to finish strong for a two-under 70 on a windy, rainy Feb 1 and hold the lead after three rounds at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California.
Straka is at 16-under 200 and will take a one-stroke lead into Feb 2 (Feb 3, Singapore time).
“It would be great, it would be amazing,” he said of potentially taking his fourth Tour victory.
“I’m not trying to let my mind wander that far. It’s a very packed leaderboard and it’s going to take a great round.”
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy and Ireland’s Shane Lowry shot matching 65s to sit one shot back.
“(Sunday) would be big for a lot of reasons,” McIlroy said.
“It’s exciting to try to get my first win of the season... Historically, the West Coast hasn’t been that good to me.”
Lowry and McIlroy were encouraged by being together for the last round.
“Let’s hope one of us does the business,” Lowry said.
Straka carried a three-stroke lead into the third round, but bogeys on the first three holes of the backside were troublesome, before he recovered for birdies on four of the last five holes.
Two weeks ago, he won for the third time on the PGA Tour by capturing The American Express.
McIlroy, making his season debut on the PGA Tour, posted birdies on three of the final four holes.
“It’s really cool to be in contention this early in the season,” said the world No. 3.
Lowry played the last eight holes in four under with four birdies. He played the first three holes in four under, boosted by an eagle three on No. 2.
Conditions were described as nasty on the course because of wind and rain.
Lowry said normally he would “love this place”, but he said the conditions provided a unique challenge.
“I don’t enjoy it,” the 2019 Open champion said. “I live in Florida for a reason.”
Shane Lowry played the last eight holes in four under with four birdies. He played the first three holes in four under, boosted by an eagle three on No. 2.
PHOTO: AFP
McIlroy said he took a different approach when the wind became such a factor.
“Let’s just try to chip the ball and run,” the four-time Major champion said. “It was nice to pick up a few birdies on the way in.”
It sets up with the potential for numerous golfers to rise to the top during the final round.
Australia’s Cam Davis (69), England’s Justin Rose (68) and South Korea’s Tom Kim (68) are tied for fourth at 14 under.
Lucas Glover (68) is seventh at 13 under, followed by Russell Henley (71) at 12 under and Austin Eckroat (71) at 11 under.
“It was nice to kind of stay in it,” said world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.
“It was such a tough day out there, I knew guys would be struggling.”
Scheffler (69) said he feels he has an “outside chance” going into the final round. He is at 10 under in his season debut but Jordan Spieth’s first tournament of the season has gone sour after a 79 put him at five over.
Defending champion Wyndham Clark (71) is out of contention at two over. REUTERS
