Koepka tops star-studded leaderboard in St Louis
Tournament: US PGA Championship Race to Dubai: Tournament 34 of 47 events Venue: Bellerive Country Club Prize fund: US$10,500,000 Hashtag: #PGAChamp
The image of Brookes Koepka must be credited to Getty Images and used in conjunction with this release only. Round Three Report Brooks Koepka will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the US PGA Championship but he will have a high-class pack trying to chase him down as he goes in search of a second Major of the season. The two-time defending US Open champion looked like he was going to run away with things at Bellerive Country Club when he opened up a five-shot lead on the back nine but bogeys on the 14th and 15th left the door open to the rest of the field. Koepka's 66 moved him to 12 under, with 2013 Masters Tournament champion Adam Scott his closest challenger after a 65. Spaniard Jon Rahm carded a 66 to get to nine under and sit in a tie for third - his best position heading into the final round of a Major - alongside Americans Rickie Fowler and Gary Woodland. 14-time Major winner Tiger Woods was four shots off the lead alongside defending champion Justin Thomas, 2015 winner Jason Day, 2009 Open champion Stewart Cink, 2011 Green Jacket winner Charl Schwartzel and Ireland's Shane Lowry. Should Koepka claim a third Major title on Sunday afternoon, the 28 year old will become the first man to win the US Open and US PGA Championship titles in the same season since Woods did it en route to the 'Tiger Slam' in 2000. Player Quotes Brooks Koepka: “I felt like last week I played probably the best golf I played in a really long time, better than both U.S. Opens, just didn't putt very well. And then coming into this week, you build on that confidence, and I feel like I'm extremely confident. I like the way I'm hitting the ball, I'm putting much better, and my short game's on point this week. When all those add up, I could see why I played so well. “I'm just focused on me. I feel like, if I do what I'm supposed to, I should win the golf tournament. Yeah, there's a lot of star power, and it should be, it's a Major championship. You should see the best players in the world come to the top. And that's what you have, and that's what's going to make this event very exciting to watch tomorrow. “Everybody out here is so good, and you look at this leaderboard and it's just, they are names that I've grown up watching that everybody else loves to watch play, and it should be an exciting day tomorrow.” Adam Scott: “If you can drive it in the fairway here, use the driver a couple more times than you normally would and get it in the fairway, then it is an advantage, for sure. That's what I did today and I didn't have to putt my absolute best to shoot the score I shot. But the first couple rounds I did putt really well. And I have no doubt I'm going to need to make some putts tomorrow. “It's going to be the pressures of trying to win a Major and you're not going to hit every shot exactly how you want and some where I'm going to have to scramble and make some putts. And ultimately every time I see guys win tournaments, especially Majors, down the stretch they're making the putts and I know that from my experience at the Masters. I made two putts on my last three holes that counted and the other guys didn't.” Jon Rahm: “It was a very solid round. If there was one thing in my game that wasn't feeling quite as good as usual was my driving, but I still managed to keep it in play. There were a couple of wild misses, but I was smart enough today to know where I could miss and where I could allow myself to miss. Besides that, my iron play is just really solid. I'm really comfortable with my irons right now, and I think that was the key to having a lot of birdie chances and hitting greens and not making too many mistakes.” Rickie Fowler: “Long day. Woke up at 4:45am, came out and finished the second round, went back for a quick change and got back after it this afternoon. Had to grind it out and kind of fight through things, but all in all, we're in a good spot and have a chance to win tomorrow. I'm looking forward to that opportunity.” Tiger Woods: “I feel like I played well today. I played 29 holes, I think I dropped three shots today and two of those were three putts. I thought I played really clean cards, really clean rounds. I just wish I could have got myself a couple more shots closer to the lead, especially with 17 the way it's playing, they're moving the tee way up like that. 18 is playing pretty short as well. I'm sure that I'll be more than just four back by the end of the day, but there aren't a lot of guys up there in front of me.”   TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES CLICK HERE
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS