US PGA TOUR report and Round 3 scores
James Hahn jumps to the top of the
leaderboard at Byron Nelson
FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITEIn the third round of the 2017 AT and T Byron Nelson, players like Jason Day and Sergio Garcia surged up the leaderboard, but they're all chasing first-round co-leader James Hahn heading into the final round at TPC Four Seasons, Las Colinas, Irving, Texas.
Hahn took a one-shot lead after shooting a 6-under 64. Click here for more from TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas.
Hahn wonders if anybody will be watching.
After all, Jason Day is in the group immediately ahead of the leaders. Sergio Garcia is in the group ahead of that. Both are past Byron Nelson champions and currently ranked inside the world’s top five.
Meanwhile, FedExCup leader and world No. 1 Dustin Johnson will also start inside the top 20 on the leaderboard.
“With D J and Jason Day,” Hahn said, “… I don’t think there’s going to be people watching the final group tomorrow.”
OK, Hahn was only joking … sort of. That’s certainly a lot of notable firepower going into a final round that could very well become a shootout.
But perhaps playing in the shadows of the bigger names will be beneficial. After all, Hahn has won a Tour event in each of the last two years, both against stellar fields. He’s in his fifth full season on Tour. He’s ready to handle the pressure of his second 54-hole lead (he tied for third after leading the 2013 AT anc T Pebble Beach Pro-Am).
“I think having the lead in the golf tournament in itself creates a lot of anxiety and nerves,” Hahn said. “If you weren’t nervous leading a golf tournament, there’s probably something wrong with you. I welcome the opportunity. For me, it’s just another test.”
As for Horschel, he’s chasing after his first win since claiming the 2014 Tour Championship and the FedExCup. Earlier this season, he was among five players making a play-off at The RSM Classic but was eliminated on the first extra holes.
Since the start of the new year, though, he’s rarely been in the mix. He came into this week having missed four consecutive cuts – his longest streak since his rookie season in 2011. But thanks to three consecutive birdies to end his round Saturday, Horschel now has a chance to end his drought after his 4-under 66.
“It’s great to be back in the final group,” Horschel said. “It’s been a little while. The last four to six weeks hasn’t been ideal for me.”
Horschel said he found something positive last Friday at THE PLAYERS Championship when he shot 76 after enduring some bad breaks. He left TPC Sawgrass feeling better about his game and the direction it was headed. After three rounds in the 60s this week, his outlook seems to be warranted.
“Just felt like this is a turning point,” Horschel said. “We're going to look back at the end of this season and [consider] the second round of PLAYERS Championship [as] the turning point for my season.”
While the bigger crowds may be elsewhere, Hahn and Horschel should have fun. Both use PXG equipment. In fact, Hahn already was in prime promotion mode Saturday night.
“Go PXG,” he said. “Buy some clubs. They work.”
Thanks to six birdies in his final eight holes, Garcia’s 6-under 64 has him just four shots off the lead. That gives him a chance to successfully defend his AT and T Byron Nelson title. He can also become just the third player in tournament history to win this event three times. The other two are Tom Watson and Sam Snead.
“If I can play the same way I played the last couple of days and hopefully put another good round, see what happens,” said this year’s Masters champ. “… Still going to be a little bit of ground there to make up, quite a bit more than I would like to.
“Obviously that 73 in the first round, it put me in that position. But at least we're able to put two really solid rounds yesterday and today and hopefully into tomorrow.”
THIRD ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 210 (3x70)
players from USA unless stated otherwise
198 James Hahn 64 70 64
199 Billy Horschel 68 65 66
200 Jason Day (Australia) 68 69 63, Jason Kokrak 66 62 72
201 Cameron Tringale 66 68 67
202 Sergio Garcia (Spain) 73 65 64, Jason Dufner 69 68 65, Bud Cauley 67 67 68
SELECTED OTHER SCORES
205 Dustin Johnson 67 667 71 (T19)
209 Ian Poulter (England) 70 71 67 (T42)
210 Greg Owen (England) 69 70 71 (T52)
LEADERS NEED YOUR SUPPORT
James Hahn is the tournament leader. That puts him in Sunday’s final group with his closest pursuer, Billy Horschel.Hahn wonders if anybody will be watching.
After all, Jason Day is in the group immediately ahead of the leaders. Sergio Garcia is in the group ahead of that. Both are past Byron Nelson champions and currently ranked inside the world’s top five.
Meanwhile, FedExCup leader and world No. 1 Dustin Johnson will also start inside the top 20 on the leaderboard.
“With D J and Jason Day,” Hahn said, “… I don’t think there’s going to be people watching the final group tomorrow.”
OK, Hahn was only joking … sort of. That’s certainly a lot of notable firepower going into a final round that could very well become a shootout.
But perhaps playing in the shadows of the bigger names will be beneficial. After all, Hahn has won a Tour event in each of the last two years, both against stellar fields. He’s in his fifth full season on Tour. He’s ready to handle the pressure of his second 54-hole lead (he tied for third after leading the 2013 AT anc T Pebble Beach Pro-Am).
“I think having the lead in the golf tournament in itself creates a lot of anxiety and nerves,” Hahn said. “If you weren’t nervous leading a golf tournament, there’s probably something wrong with you. I welcome the opportunity. For me, it’s just another test.”
As for Horschel, he’s chasing after his first win since claiming the 2014 Tour Championship and the FedExCup. Earlier this season, he was among five players making a play-off at The RSM Classic but was eliminated on the first extra holes.
Since the start of the new year, though, he’s rarely been in the mix. He came into this week having missed four consecutive cuts – his longest streak since his rookie season in 2011. But thanks to three consecutive birdies to end his round Saturday, Horschel now has a chance to end his drought after his 4-under 66.
“It’s great to be back in the final group,” Horschel said. “It’s been a little while. The last four to six weeks hasn’t been ideal for me.”
Horschel said he found something positive last Friday at THE PLAYERS Championship when he shot 76 after enduring some bad breaks. He left TPC Sawgrass feeling better about his game and the direction it was headed. After three rounds in the 60s this week, his outlook seems to be warranted.
“Just felt like this is a turning point,” Horschel said. “We're going to look back at the end of this season and [consider] the second round of PLAYERS Championship [as] the turning point for my season.”
While the bigger crowds may be elsewhere, Hahn and Horschel should have fun. Both use PXG equipment. In fact, Hahn already was in prime promotion mode Saturday night.
“Go PXG,” he said. “Buy some clubs. They work.”
DEFENDING CHAMP IS LURKING
Prior to Saturday’s third round, Sergio Garcia told his fiancée, Angela Akins, that he needed to shoot a 65 to get back into contention. He went one better.Thanks to six birdies in his final eight holes, Garcia’s 6-under 64 has him just four shots off the lead. That gives him a chance to successfully defend his AT and T Byron Nelson title. He can also become just the third player in tournament history to win this event three times. The other two are Tom Watson and Sam Snead.
“If I can play the same way I played the last couple of days and hopefully put another good round, see what happens,” said this year’s Masters champ. “… Still going to be a little bit of ground there to make up, quite a bit more than I would like to.
“Obviously that 73 in the first round, it put me in that position. But at least we're able to put two really solid rounds yesterday and today and hopefully into tomorrow.”
THIRD ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 210 (3x70)
players from USA unless stated otherwise
198 James Hahn 64 70 64
199 Billy Horschel 68 65 66
200 Jason Day (Australia) 68 69 63, Jason Kokrak 66 62 72
201 Cameron Tringale 66 68 67
202 Sergio Garcia (Spain) 73 65 64, Jason Dufner 69 68 65, Bud Cauley 67 67 68
SELECTED OTHER SCORES
205 Dustin Johnson 67 667 71 (T19)
209 Ian Poulter (England) 70 71 67 (T42)
210 Greg Owen (England) 69 70 71 (T52)
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE
Labels: US PGA TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Saturday, May 20, 2017
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home