THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP THIRD-ROUND STORY AND SCORES
KAYMR AND SPIETH SHARE THREE-
STROKE LEAD AT SAWGRASS
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida -- They will go at it again one more time Sunday. The former world No. 1 against the future -- is there really any doubt now? -- No 1.
The major winner against the Masters contender.
The steady German against the unflappable young American.
It's the latter match-up that's as intriguing as any storyline going into Sunday's final round of The Players' Championship.
Martin Kaymer and Jordan Spieth will be in the final twosome at TPC Sawgrass, just as they were Saturday. They share the lead at 12 under, three shots clear of the rest of the field.
They enter the Sunday climax with one hand each on the crystal trophy, and unless they stumble or unless something heroic is produced from the contenders, it's a good bet one of them will be celebrating on the 18th green Sunday.
While the Ryder Cup is five months and several thousand miles away, both players suspect Sunday could turn into a match-play environment. Given that TPC Sawgrass is on American soil, you shouldn't be surprised who'll be the gallery favourite.
"Everybody has been very respectful to Martin," said Spieth, the 20-year-old Texan looking to become the youngest winner in the tournament's history.
"But they've definitely been partial."
Kaymer, at age 29, is working on the second act of his career. After winning the 2010 US PGA Championship and then rising to No. 1 in early 2011, he struggled to maintain that high level of play while going through some swing changes.
He entered this week ranked 62nd in the world and, after tieing a tournament record with a 9-under 63 on Thursday, talked about the pressures of dealing with lofty expectations and how he just simply "stopped thinking" about things.
Everyone loves a comeback story, so why wouldn't we want to see Kaymer succeed? Plus, he's likeable. Spieth, who had not met Kaymer before Saturday, called him a "great guy, class act."
While walking down the 11th fairway together after Spieth missed a makeable birdie putt on the previous hole, Kaymer tried to lift his spirits.
"Just have some fun," Kaymer told the youngster. "This is where you want to be."
Spieth appreciated the gesture -- and promptly posted his only birdie of the day to slice Kaymer's lead to one.
But both players know that human nature and pride of country will filter through the gallery on Sunday. Kaymer acknowledged that Saturday's pairing "felt a bit like a Ryder Cup match," then added, "but we didn't play in Europe, obviously."
So the German is prepared for the same atmosphere in Sunday's final round, just as he was in 2010 at the PGA Championship when he found himself in a playoff against Bubba Watson.
And just as he was at the 2012 Ryder Cup in Medinah outside Chicago when he holed the clinching putt despite not even feeling like he deserved to be part of the European team.
He will draw upon those memories Sunday.
"When you're trying to win a big tournament, usually the big tournaments, you play them in America, so I'm always a foreigner," Kaymer said. "It's a good challenge....
"It's not easy, but I know what's going to happen. I know what I can expect, and therefore it's OK."
Spieth knows it's a tough position for Kaymer, one that he does not envy. He will appreciate the support but wants to make sure that it doesn't cross the line. He's counting on the gallery to be respectful.
"To be honest with you, with how great of a guy Martin is, I wish it didn't feel as much like a Ryder Cup," Spieth said.
And yet ...
"I think that's only going to help me to have momentum with the crowd behind me," he said.
That won't be the only source of momentum for Spieth. He will enter the final round having played his first 54 holes of the championship bogey-free. In fact, he hasn't made a bogey in his last 69 holes on the US PGA Tour.
Spieth maintained the streak by rolling in a 13-foot par-saving putt on the final hole, his longest putt of the day.
When Kaymer followed by missing his shorter par putt, it left the two tied for the 54-hole lead. It also caused a few fans to cheer, Ryder Cup-style, which Spieth said "wish didn't happen."
It was an emotionally uplifting end to a day that didn't always go well for Spieth, but one that showed he can grind as well as anybody out here.
And while Kaymer can draw upon his PGA and Ryder Cup moments, Spieth will draw upon his play at last month's Masters, especially in the final round when he held the lead on the front side. His two-hole stumble that Sunday cost him a shot at history -- he would've been the youngest Masters winner -- but he hung tough on the back nine and did himself proud.
The lessons he learned that day, both the positives and negatives, should serve him well this Sunday.
"Augusta left me feeling a little hungry," he said.
A month ago, he was paired with Bubba Watson, who would overtake Spieth to win his second green jacket. In that final pairing, the rooting interests were split. Some shouted for Spieth. Others shouted for Bubba.
He doesn't expect an even split this Sunday.
"Hopefully we'll get out there and give them something to cheer for," Spieth said, "and try and gain momentum off of the fans who have been so special here."
THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3x72) Players from USA unless stated
204 Martin Kaymer (Germany) 63 69 72, Jordan Spieth 67 66 71
207 John Senden (Australia) 70 69 68, Sergio Garcia (Spain) 67 71 69
208 Matt Jones (Australia) 70 68 68, George McNeill 71 68 69, Gary Woodland 67 71 70
209 Francesco Molinari (Italy) 72 70 67, David Hearn (Canada) 70 71 68, Lee Westwood (England) 67 71 71
SELECTED SCORES
210 Jim Furyk 70 68 72 (T11)
211 Bubba Watson 69 72 70, Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 71 70 70, Justin Rose (England) 67 71 73 (T13)
212 Brian Davis (England) 72 67 73 (T24)
213 Rory McIlroy (N Ireland) 70 74 69, Adam Scott (Australia) 77 67 69 (T28)
215 Ian Poulter (England) 74 69 72, Jamie Donaldson (Wales) 74 67 74 (T37)
216 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano 67 77 72 (T52)
217 Russell Knox (Scotland) 72 72 73, Luke Donald (England) 73 69 73, Graeme McDowell (N Ireland) 69 71 77
MISSED SECOND CUT
219 Ernie Els (S Africa) 68 76 75.
To view all the third-round scores
CLICK HERE
STROKE LEAD AT SAWGRASS
-
FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida -- They will go at it again one more time Sunday. The former world No. 1 against the future -- is there really any doubt now? -- No 1.
The major winner against the Masters contender.
The steady German against the unflappable young American.
It's the latter match-up that's as intriguing as any storyline going into Sunday's final round of The Players' Championship.
Martin Kaymer and Jordan Spieth will be in the final twosome at TPC Sawgrass, just as they were Saturday. They share the lead at 12 under, three shots clear of the rest of the field.
They enter the Sunday climax with one hand each on the crystal trophy, and unless they stumble or unless something heroic is produced from the contenders, it's a good bet one of them will be celebrating on the 18th green Sunday.
While the Ryder Cup is five months and several thousand miles away, both players suspect Sunday could turn into a match-play environment. Given that TPC Sawgrass is on American soil, you shouldn't be surprised who'll be the gallery favourite.
"Everybody has been very respectful to Martin," said Spieth, the 20-year-old Texan looking to become the youngest winner in the tournament's history.
"But they've definitely been partial."
Kaymer, at age 29, is working on the second act of his career. After winning the 2010 US PGA Championship and then rising to No. 1 in early 2011, he struggled to maintain that high level of play while going through some swing changes.
He entered this week ranked 62nd in the world and, after tieing a tournament record with a 9-under 63 on Thursday, talked about the pressures of dealing with lofty expectations and how he just simply "stopped thinking" about things.
Everyone loves a comeback story, so why wouldn't we want to see Kaymer succeed? Plus, he's likeable. Spieth, who had not met Kaymer before Saturday, called him a "great guy, class act."
While walking down the 11th fairway together after Spieth missed a makeable birdie putt on the previous hole, Kaymer tried to lift his spirits.
"Just have some fun," Kaymer told the youngster. "This is where you want to be."
Spieth appreciated the gesture -- and promptly posted his only birdie of the day to slice Kaymer's lead to one.
But both players know that human nature and pride of country will filter through the gallery on Sunday. Kaymer acknowledged that Saturday's pairing "felt a bit like a Ryder Cup match," then added, "but we didn't play in Europe, obviously."
So the German is prepared for the same atmosphere in Sunday's final round, just as he was in 2010 at the PGA Championship when he found himself in a playoff against Bubba Watson.
And just as he was at the 2012 Ryder Cup in Medinah outside Chicago when he holed the clinching putt despite not even feeling like he deserved to be part of the European team.
He will draw upon those memories Sunday.
"When you're trying to win a big tournament, usually the big tournaments, you play them in America, so I'm always a foreigner," Kaymer said. "It's a good challenge....
"It's not easy, but I know what's going to happen. I know what I can expect, and therefore it's OK."
Spieth knows it's a tough position for Kaymer, one that he does not envy. He will appreciate the support but wants to make sure that it doesn't cross the line. He's counting on the gallery to be respectful.
"To be honest with you, with how great of a guy Martin is, I wish it didn't feel as much like a Ryder Cup," Spieth said.
And yet ...
"I think that's only going to help me to have momentum with the crowd behind me," he said.
That won't be the only source of momentum for Spieth. He will enter the final round having played his first 54 holes of the championship bogey-free. In fact, he hasn't made a bogey in his last 69 holes on the US PGA Tour.
Spieth maintained the streak by rolling in a 13-foot par-saving putt on the final hole, his longest putt of the day.
When Kaymer followed by missing his shorter par putt, it left the two tied for the 54-hole lead. It also caused a few fans to cheer, Ryder Cup-style, which Spieth said "wish didn't happen."
It was an emotionally uplifting end to a day that didn't always go well for Spieth, but one that showed he can grind as well as anybody out here.
And while Kaymer can draw upon his PGA and Ryder Cup moments, Spieth will draw upon his play at last month's Masters, especially in the final round when he held the lead on the front side. His two-hole stumble that Sunday cost him a shot at history -- he would've been the youngest Masters winner -- but he hung tough on the back nine and did himself proud.
The lessons he learned that day, both the positives and negatives, should serve him well this Sunday.
"Augusta left me feeling a little hungry," he said.
A month ago, he was paired with Bubba Watson, who would overtake Spieth to win his second green jacket. In that final pairing, the rooting interests were split. Some shouted for Spieth. Others shouted for Bubba.
He doesn't expect an even split this Sunday.
"Hopefully we'll get out there and give them something to cheer for," Spieth said, "and try and gain momentum off of the fans who have been so special here."
THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3x72) Players from USA unless stated
204 Martin Kaymer (Germany) 63 69 72, Jordan Spieth 67 66 71
207 John Senden (Australia) 70 69 68, Sergio Garcia (Spain) 67 71 69
208 Matt Jones (Australia) 70 68 68, George McNeill 71 68 69, Gary Woodland 67 71 70
209 Francesco Molinari (Italy) 72 70 67, David Hearn (Canada) 70 71 68, Lee Westwood (England) 67 71 71
SELECTED SCORES
210 Jim Furyk 70 68 72 (T11)
211 Bubba Watson 69 72 70, Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 71 70 70, Justin Rose (England) 67 71 73 (T13)
212 Brian Davis (England) 72 67 73 (T24)
213 Rory McIlroy (N Ireland) 70 74 69, Adam Scott (Australia) 77 67 69 (T28)
215 Ian Poulter (England) 74 69 72, Jamie Donaldson (Wales) 74 67 74 (T37)
216 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano 67 77 72 (T52)
217 Russell Knox (Scotland) 72 72 73, Luke Donald (England) 73 69 73, Graeme McDowell (N Ireland) 69 71 77
MISSED SECOND CUT
219 Ernie Els (S Africa) 68 76 75.
To view all the third-round scores
CLICK HERE
Labels: US PGA TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Saturday, May 10, 2014
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home