US PGA Championship second round leaderboard, Bethpage Black Course
-12 B Koepka (US); -5 J Spieth (US), A Scott (Aus); -4 D Berger (US), D Johnson (US), K Kraft (US), M Wallace (Eng), L List (US); -3 J Rose (Eng)
Selected others: -2 T Fleetwood (Eng), L Oosthuizen (SAf), R Fowler (US); Level M Fitzpatrick (Eng), P Mickelson (US), T Hatton (Eng), F Molinari (Ita); +1 P Casey (Eng), D Willett (Eng); +2 G McDowell (NIre), +3 R McIlroy (NIre), J Day (Australia)
Missed cut: +5 T Woods (US), S Garcia (Spa); +6 I Poulter (Eng)
Leaderboard

Brooks Koepka extended his lead at the US PGA Championship with the lowest 36-hole score in major championship history as Tiger Woods missed the cut.

The defending champion leads by a tournament record seven shots on 12 under after a five-under 65 in round two at Bethpage Black on Long Island.
Masters champion Woods missed a sixth cut in his past 11 majors on five over.

Jordan Spieth (66) is joint second with Adam Scott (64) on five under, while England's Matt Wallace is a shot back.
Wallace had a run of six birdies in seven holes to put himself at six under but successive bogeys on the seventh and eighth, his 16th and 17th holes, meant he slipped to join a group on four under following a second-round 67.
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, who was among the early starters, posted an improved 71, helped by four birdies on his back nine, but he had an anxious wait to see if his three over par was good enough to make the cut.
The cut mark eventually came at four over, meaning Woods missed out by one shot.
"I made too many mistakes and didn't do the little things I needed to do," said Woods. "I did a lot of little things wrong.
"I've enjoyed being the Masters champion again and the PGA was a quick turnaround. Unfortunately I just didn't play well."

Brooks Koepka completed 27 holes before recording his first dropped shot

Woods and Koepka polar opposites

Woods, who was chasing a 16th major after ending his 11-year wait to win title number 15 last month, had another mixed round to add to his opening 72.
Having not played since his victory at Augusta National, his driving was inconsistent and putts failed to drop. After remaining at two over through the front nine, he started the back nine with four bogeys in five holes.
Needing a birdie on the last to make the cut at four over, the 43-year-old missed the green with his second shot and sent his must-make chip several feet past the hole as he finished 17 shots behind fellow American Koepka.
The tournament leader, attempting to win a fourth major after also winning the 2017 and 2018 US Opens, was a class apart.
His driving continually made a mockery of one of the toughest courses in golf, and his approach play and putting remained sound.
The 29-year-old recovered from his first bogey of the tournament, after 27 holes, on the 10th to card a further three birdies. And despite a further bogey on the 17th, it will take a huge turn of events to stop him winning successive US PGA Championship titles.
"This probably sounds bad, but it was a battle," said Koepka. "I didn't strike the ball that well. I was leaking a few to the right but I hung in there and battled.
"I think that was probably more impressive than Thursday, not having your 'A' game but still being able to shoot a great score."
In addition to his 36-hole major record, he now holds the the 18, 36 and 72-hole scoring records for the US PGA Championship.

Matt Wallace had a run of six birdies in seven holes

Wallace shows class as McIlroy hangs on

Wallace, who narrowly missed out on victory at the British Masters last week and won three times on the European Tour last season, hit an incredible run of form over his back nine, having started on the 10th.
At one point, the 29-year-old was second behind Koepka but late bogeys proved costly, as they did for fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, who also reached six under par.
But the Southport golfer carded four bogeys on the back nine and his one-over par 71 saw him finish the day on two under.
Olympic champion Justin Rose moved ahead of Fleetwood after carding a 67 to reach three under, while England's Matt Fitzpatrick had a sparkling round, hitting a five-under 65 to move to level par.
McIlroy, who struggled from his start on the 10th, dropped five shots over the first three holes to slip to seven over, but the 2012 and 2014 US PGA champion said he was "proud" of the way he battled back to make the cut.
"I could have let my head drop and hopped on a plane home to Florida but I wanted to be around for the weekend," the 30-year-old told Sky Sports.
"I was four over through three at a tournament in Boston two years ago and I ended up winning, so that was in my hea

Adam Scott holed 119 feet worth of putts in the front nine of his second round

Spieth and Scott in touch

Spieth, who has struggled for form this season, showed his major pedigree by setting the clubhouse target among the early starters.
Should the 25-year-old prevail at the US PGA, he would become only the sixth golfer to complete a career Grand Slam of all four majors.
"I putted beautifully, especially inside of 12 feet," said Spieth. "This golf course makes you stay patient. The ultimate goal for the week is to have a chance to win on the back nine on Sunday."
He was joined later on at five under by 2013 Masters champion Scott, who drained several monster putts on a run of four birdies in his first five holes.
Three further birdies followed in four holes on the back nine, with his only blemish coming on the par-three 17th when the 38-year-old three putted.
Former champion Phil Mickelson, playing alongside McIlroy and Australian Jason Day, frequently found the rough with errant tee shots but the five-time major winner still posted a one-over par 71 to sit on level par going into the weekend.
New Zealand's Danny Lee, who finished the opening round second behind Koepka on six under carded a four-over 74 to slip back to two under

KOEPKA'S TITLE DEFENCE TEES OFF WITH A 63

mediahub.europeantour.com. Day One Report Brooks Koepka’s US PGA Championship title defence got off to a perfect start at Bethpage Black Course as an almost effortless seven under 63 moved the American one clear of Danny Lee, while Tommy Fleetwood was three shots further back in outright third. Koepka is aiming to make it four victories in eight Major appearances this week and the 29 year old former Challenge Tour graduate made the notoriously difficult Bethpage look like a walk in the park with a bogey-free opening round, which even included several missed birdie opportunities. New Zealand’s Lee was the closest challenger after carding his best round at a Major thanks to a six under 64, with 2017 Race to Dubai Champion Fleetwood the next best after a three under 67. The Englishman came close to winning the U.S. Open at another Long Island venue, Shinnecock Hills, last year but a final round 63 saw him come up just short of winner Koepka. Mike Lorenzo-Vera, meanwhile, shares fourth place in just his third Major appearance after the Frenchman signed for a two under par 68, and England's Matt Wallace was the next best European a shot further back on one under. Player quotes: Brooks Koepka “I think it's out there. The only thing you have to do is hit fairways. If you're going to hit fairways, you're going to be able to hit the greens and get the ball close to the hole. I mean, obviously my length is an advantage here. But I mean, the one thing I didn't do is take care of the par-fives. I didn't birdie any of the par-fives. “So you can definitely shoot a number. Some of these hole locations I think are quite gettable. I wouldn't be surprised if you see another good score in the afternoon. “It's a whole new day tomorrow. They say that (it’s difficult to follow up a great round), but plenty of people have followed it up with a good round. I mean, tomorrow is a whole new day. Get out here and stick to my normal routine and then go from there. But I'm excited about tomorrow.” Tommy Fleetwood “I would say it's a little more forgiving than the practice days have been, like it felt like there was a few chances today, but overall, still a brutal golf course, and as soon as you're out of position, you're going to struggle. Luckily enough, I hit plenty of good golf shots. “I felt like I putted really well, like I holed out really well, and the par saves that I had, I made, whatever I made, three bogeys or something. But in general, like I didn't really have like a five-, six-footer for par on those holes, so I holed all those putts that you want to hole that are kind of momentum putts. Felt very accepting out there, and just overall had a good day.” Mike Lorenzo-Vera “That was really good. I knew that was going to be a huge mental test here, and I was ready - my head was ready to go there. Sometimes my swing was not, but my head was ready. Tough to keep the head where it should be so very proud of what I've done today. “It's going to be very difficult to maintani. If I continue playing like that, I'm going to sleep less and less, shake more and more. Yeah, I know what's awaiting me the few days coming. First of all, I'm going to have a good rest, speak to my psychologist, I guess, and then here we go again.” Matt Wallace “I thought I was going to shoot 59 in the first four holes. I was playing great, and really enjoyed being out there and kind of felt calm and chilled and just happy. And then the middle spell came, it was unexpected where I hit three bad shots, but the bogeys are going to kind of come out there, and when you're not absolutely perfect. “I’m happy how I dealt with that, stayed calm, made a great birdie on 12 to get it back and give myself really good chances down the last there and just missed it.” Ends

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONSOEP

TWO-TIME MAJOR CHAMPION BROOKS KOEPKA

CAPTURES 2018 US PGA PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Dustin Johnson earns his second Vardon Trophy

 

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Florida  – Two-time major champion Brooks Koepka, who turned professional just six years ago and who overcame a serious wrist injury prior to this season, wrapped up a historic campaign by capturing the 2018 PGA of America Player of the Year Award, presented by the PGA of America for excellence by a US PGA TOUR professional.

 

Dustin Johnson, a two-time winner this season, earned his second Vardon Trophy in three years.

 

Koepka, who won a second consecutive U.S. Open Championship in June, powered his way to the PGA Player of the Year award by winning the PGA Championship in August. He collected 126 total points based upon two major championship victories, which guaranteed him 50 bonus points. He also finished fifth in the season money list and ninth in the Vardon Trophy standings for adjusted scoring average.

 

Justin Thomas, the 2017 PGA Player of the Year, finished second overall with 66 points, followed by Johnson with 58 and Fedex Cup Champion Justin Rose with 54.

 

 

Rose (65) and Knox (66) set pace in FedExCup play-offs

      
  

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First-Round Notes – Friday, August 31, 2018

Weather: Partly cloudy, with a high of 76. Wind ENE 6-12 mph

 

First-Round Leaderboard

Justin Rose                         65 (-6)

Russell Knox                       66 (-5)

Abraham Ancer                  66 (-5)

 

Leading Asian scores

C.T. Pan                                 69 (-2)

Byeong Hun An                   69 (-2)

Si Woo Kim                           70 (-1)

Hideki Matsuyama             71 (E)

Whee Kim                             72 (+1)

Anirban Lahiri                      74 (+3)

Five Things To Know

• The top-100 players in the FedExCup standings qualified for the Dell Technologies Championship. The top-70 players after this week will advance to next week’s BMW Championship
• Justin Thomas (2017), Rory McIlroy (2016), Henrik Stenson (2013) and Vijay Singh (2008) won the Dell Technologies Championship and FedExCup title in the same year
• Justin Rose posts one of just two bogey-free rounds to take 18-hole lead
• Russell Knox uses an eagle-2 at No. 15 from 109 yards to open with a 5-under 66
• Tiger Woods (72) posts a third-consecutive over-par score at TPC Boston

  

 

Justin Rose (-6/1^st)

Age: 38 (July 30, 1980)

Joined TOUR: 1998

Entering the week

#6                       FedExCup

#1                       FedExCup Projected Standing

#4                       OWGR

13                       Starts at Dell Technologies Championship

320                     PGA TOUR starts

9                         PGA TOUR victories

15                       PGA TOUR starts in 2017-18

8                         Top-10s in 2017-18

 

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
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Woodland, 10 under par, remains in control in stormy 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

This image of Gary Woodland is displayed by courtesy of Getty Images Round Two Report Gary Woodland fired the lowest 36-hole total in US PGA Championship history before storms saw play suspended for the day during round two at Bellerive Country Club. The American fired a 66 to take his record low-total to 10-under-par 130, one shot clear of countryman Kevin Kisner. Two-time defending US Open champion Brooks Koepka is on eight-under 132 after equalling the lowest round in US PGA Championship history with a 63, a feat matched by South Africa's Charl Schwartzel who is a shot further back on 133. Belgian Thomas Pieters and World Number One Dustin Johnson arere also in the clubhouse at 143 alongside Rickie Fowler, who had played ten holes when the horn sounded at 3.35pm local time and brought the players off for the day. Play will resume at 7am local time on Saturday with some groups still having as many as 14 holes to play. Round three will begin 30min after the conclusion of three-balls off the first and tenth tees. Player Quotes Gary Woodland: “The crowds have been massive, which is awesome. So it's good to have that energy out there as well. I probably didn't play as well as I did yesterday top to bottom, but the iron game really kept me in it today. I got a little wayward with a couple of drives and hit a lot of good putts that didn't go in. I can live with that.” Kevin Kisner: “I knew I was playing well and I had made a few birdies. I hit it great on our second nine and just didn't hole any putts. “I've made a bunch of cuts and competed in Majors, I just haven't, until recently, competed, haven't had a chance to win. That's our goal going forward and I like my position going to the weekend.” Brooks Koepka: “Played really well. I feel like yesterday I played really well too and sometimes you don't really score very well. I think the double bogey I had was because the wind switched on us. But today I drove it beautifully. My wedges' distance control is spot on, and I'm making the putts, those five, six-footers that you need to make.” Dustin Johnson: “It was good at the end. I played my back nine really well. I drove it a lot better on the back nine. I just didn't hit very good drives on the front nine but still felt like I was swinging well, especially with the irons. I still hit a lot of good shots, I had a lot of good looks at birdie on the back nine, just didn't make any putts. Rolled a few in on the last seven holes.” Charl Schwartzel: “I think this morning was very scoreable. I drove it decently well and my iron play has been really good. I gave myself a lot of birdie chances. I felt like I was putting for birdie on pretty much every hole. There's been ups and downs, and I just feel like I'm starting to play a better golf game.” Thomas Pieters: “I feel good. I've been driving it very well. I stayed patient on the greens. Hit every green in regulation on the first nine holes and didn't make any putts, so it was very frustrating. But I made some really good putts later.  LINK TO SCOREBOARD CLICK HERE

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. Woodland feels at home in Missouri, leads US PGA Championship with a 64

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                              By Associated Press                                                                                             

ST. LOUIS -- Kansas-bred Gary Woodland felt right at home in enemy territory and delivered his best performance in a major Thursday at the PGA Championship.
Woodland used his power to birdie the two par 5s on the soft turf of Bellerive, and he relied on a new grip and new confidence in his putter for everything else on his way to a 6-under 64 for a one-shot lead over Rickie Fowler in the opening round of the year's final major.
Woodland recognized close to 100 friends and family among thousands in a gallery that withstood the sweltering weather, and his only fault was trying too hard. He made a careless bogey on the opening hole, had to make a 15-foot par putt at No. 5. And then he settled down and was on his way.
"This week is as close to home as I've been," Woodland said. "I snuck over here about a month ago and played the golf course. Really enjoyed the layout. The turf is very familiar to me. It's so hot here during the summer, so the greens are soft and slow. You can be more aggressive, which suits my game."
Fowler played in the morning, when the greens were slight smoother, and made five birdies over his last 11 holes for a 65. It was an important start for Fowler, who turns 30 this year and already is regarded as among the best without a major. The closest he has come to such a trophy is celebrating those won by his friends.
"It's not something I necessarily worry about," Fowler said. "Keep putting ourselves in position, get in contention ... we have had plenty of runner-ups. Jack (Nicklaus) had a lot of runner-ups. We'll just keep beating down that door."
Bellerive allowed for low scoring, provided the ball stayed in the short grass. Woodland had an 18-foot birdie attempt on the 18th hole that would have tied the PGA Championship record, and it stopped just short. It was one of the few he missed.

Two-time major champion Zach Johnson and Brandon Stone of South Africa were at 66.
Dustin Johnson reached 5 under until a few wild drives on the back nine cost him. The No. 1 player in the FedExCup standings had to settle for a 67, along with Jason Day, Justin Rose and eight other players.
It was more of a struggle for Tiger Woods, drenched in so much sweat that he changed shirts after 12 shots -- that was only two holes and a tee shot. He had to make an 8-foot putt to escape with bogey on No. 10, and then dumped a wedge into the water for double bogey on No. 11. Woods was 3 over through seven holes, and then clawed his way back to even par for a 70.
"A lot of things could happen. Not a lot them were positive," Woods said. "But I hung in there and turned it around."
Defending champion Justin Thomas let a good start slip away. He didn't make a putt outside a few feet over the last 12 holes and shot 69. Jordan Spieth, in his second crack at the career Grand Slam, opened with a double bogey and finished two bad swings off the tee that sent him to a 71.
The secret was simple: Avoid the rough.
Woodland, who played college basketball for one year at Washburn as a freshman before switching to golf at Kansas, is among the most powerful, athletic figures in golf. He had 145 yards to the front on No. 5 and couldn't get it to the green.
"Pretty nasty," he said.
That's how it was for Woods at the start, when his opening tee shot found the rough and he could only pitch it back to the fairway with a creek at bottom of the hill. That's why Fowler thrived. He missed only three fairways and putted for birdie on all but two holes.
Fowler's biggest change was the wardrobe, switching to a yellow shirt for Thursday in memory of Jarrod Lyle, the Australian golfer who died Wednesday. On the course, he looked like he was ready to give this major business -- he had his third runner-up finish in a major at the Masters this year -- another try.
For Woodland, success in the big events has been hard to find. He still hasn't registered a top 10, and he hasn't contended in any tournament since winning the Phoenix Open more than six months ago.
The frustration was in the short game, and Woodland finally had enough at The Open Championship. He sought out putting specialist Phil Kenyon, who worked with him at Carnoustie, and a little more at Akron, trying not to overload Woodland with too much information.
Then, he switched to an oversized putting grip on Tuesday, and it all came together.
His longest putt was from 45 feet down the hill at No. 11, followed by a 25-footer on the next hole. He finished off his round with a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-3 16th, and then a pitch-and-run to tap-in range after reaching the front of the green in two on the 591-yard 17th.
"It's nice just to see the results," Woodland said. "You work so hard and you want to see results to back up the work that you've done and today was just a step in the right direction."
Ian Poulter and Justin Rose are T5 with 67s.

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Redoubtable Thomas claims maiden Major

 

Image of Justin Thomas, by courtesy of Getty Images

Final Report from European Tour Communications

Justin Thomas claimed a maiden Major Championship as the American soared to a two-stroke victory at the US PGA Championship in a thrilling final day, during which Francesco Molinari and Patrick Reed both made charges towards the title before finishing tied for second alongside Louis Oosthuizen.

Thomas, the longest hitter in the field, was certainly a crowd favourite at Quail Hollow Club and he undoubtedly provided the most memorable moments in a finale which was set alight when his birdie putt at the ninth hole sat on the cup for eight seconds before falling to rapturous roars from the galleries.

That took the 24 year old to the turn in one under before he followed that drama immediately with a second successive birdie at the tenth.
The momentum was with the Kentucky player at that stage as the crowds descended on the penultimate group of which he was a part, and two more birdies at the 13^th and 17^th lifted him three shots clear heading down the last.

After finding a fairway bunker with his final tee shot, Thomas’s nerveless approach left him with four putts to win and a bogey five rounded off a memorable three under final round 68 for an eight under total.

Molinari, meanwhile, put himself in the mix with a stunning 67 which began with a flawless two under par front nine before the Italian followed a disappointing bogey at the par five tenth with four birdies in five holes. Another dropped shot at the 16^th, however, put paid to his chances.

His fellow European Tour member Reed joined him in second place soon after, the American carding four birdies in six holes early on for a two under front nine before picking up a shot each at the tenth, 14^th and 15^th to move within reach, before a bogey at the last for a 67 and a six under total.

Oosthuizen holed a huge putt at the last to join them in a share of the runner-up spot. Jordan Smith’s incredible rise through the ranks reached heady new heights as the Englishman finished with a 68 to claim a top ten on his Major debut.

Player quotes

Justin Thomas

“It was a crazy day. It had to be an unbelievable watching today in terms of spectating and sitting at home watching on TV.
“I forget what hole it was, I think walking up to the 12^th green, there were maybe five of us at seven under. I had no idea it was that close. I kind of thought Hideki and I were at around 7 or 8 or whatever he wasand then some other guys.

“Then I saw Patrick Reed was playing well. I saw Rickie was kind of making a run. I saw Francesco was up there, and then obviously Kisner and Stroud behind us. To see that was kind of crazy. And then that chip-in on 13 was probably the most berserk I've ever gone on the golf course. I'm kind of interested to see how I looked for that. It was nice.

“It was something that obviously as a kid growing up, being a golf fan, you want to win all the majors. You want to win any major. For me, the PGA Championship definitely had a special place in my heart, and maybe a special drive, I guess you could say. Like I said, I want to win every tournament I play in. I want to try to win every major.”

Francesco Molinari

“It was a great day, I started very well with a birdie at the first. I wasn't really sure what to expect from the leaders. I thought maybe seven or eight under would have been the winning score. But I gave it a go. It’s a shame about 16, but I hit a really good putt and just missed on the left and I’m very, very proud of the way I played today.

“I had to look at the leaderboard on 13, and where I was at more or less, I saw that I needed at least two more birdies. Seven or eight under was looking likely to be the winning score. So I gave it my best and I'm very happy with what I did.

“It was great. Obviously yesterday I had a really bad start and it was pretty hard to recover from that. So that adds to the satisfaction after today.

“It would have been nice to start the day maybe a couple of shots closer to the leaders, but it was great getting to the last three holes tied for the lead. It's what you practice for and what you train for. Hopefully I'll get more soon.”

Patrick Reed

“Really the opening nine was a tiring one. I hit a great drive on number one and missed the green but got up-and-down for par. I feel like I hit some pretty solid shots on two and walked off with bogey. Then I went on my run where I birdied three, and almost holed out, and I almost made a hole-in-one on four and tapped in for birdie.
“It's one of those rounds, that front nine, where it's just kind of up-and-down the whole day. At the end of the day, there were just too many missed putts today. A lot of putts burned edges and really the biggest thing is Friday - to only hit five greens in 18 holes and to somehow only hit one green through 12 holes and be one-over par. I was scrambling like crazy.

“I was making a lot of great up-and-downs, but it's hard to win a golf tournament, especially a major, if you only hit five greens in one day.”

Louis Oosthuizen

“I didn't really make any putts the whole round. The only putt I made was on the last hole. Two loose shots on ten and 11 probably cost me one, maybe two shots.

“I gave it everything I had coming in. I left myself with an impossible first putt on 16 and could have done better than that, but three-putted. And then I hit it close on 17, trying to make birdie. I hit one good putt on 18 though. My arm was tight this morning and we worked that out and it was fine.”

FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)

276 Justin Thomas 73 66 69 68
278 Francesco Molinari 73 64 74 67, Louis Oosthuizen 70 67 71 70, Patrick Reed 69 73 69 67.
279 Rickie Fowler 69 70 73 67, Hideki Matsuyama 70 64 74 67.
280 Graham DeLaet 70 73 68 69, Kevin Kisner 67 67 72 74.
283 Jason Day 70 66 77 70, Matt Kuchar 71 74 70 68, Jordan Smith 70 75 70 68, Chris Stroud 68 68 71 76
284 Scott Brown 73 68 70 73, Paul Casey 69 70 74 71, James Hahn 73 70 71 70, Brian Harman 79 75 71 69,  Dustin Johnson 70 74 74 67, Brooks Koepka 68 74 74 69, Marc Leishman 75 71 71 67, Ryan Moore 71 71 73 69, Henrik Stenson 74 70 70 70
285 Rory McIlroy 72 72 73 68, Grayson Murray, Ian Poulter 75 72 72 69, Chez Reavie, Robert Streb, Gary Woodland
286 Byeong Hun An, J B Holmes, Pat Perez, Jordan Spieth, Richard Sterne
287 Keegan Bradley, Patrick Cantlay, Bud Cauley, Kevin Chappell, Bryson DeChambeau, Lucas Glover, Jason Kokrak, Jamie Lovemark, Sean O'Hair, Webb Simpson, Chris Wood 72 72 70 73
288 Tony Finau, Jim Herman, Sung Kang, Thorbjørn Olesen
289 Charley Hoffman, Billy Horschel, Zach Johnson, Satoshi Kodaira, Shane Lowry 74 69 74 72, Charl Schwartzel
290 Ryan Fox, Bill Haas, D A Points, Steve Stricker
291 Jason Dufner; Kelly Kraft; Jon Rahm
292 Tommy Fleetwood 70 75 73 74, Adam Scott
293 Dylan Frittelli, Cody Gribble, David Lingmerth
294 Vijay Singh
295 K T Kim, Alex Noren, Hideto Tanihara, Lee Westwood 73 72 75 75
296 Russell Henley, Daniel Summerhays
297 Charles Howell III, Omar Uresti
299 Anirban Lahiri

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Kisner remains on top after late drama in USA
PGA Championship at Quail Hollow

 

                              Kevin Kisner  in action. Picture by courtesy of Getty Images

Day Three Report

Kevin Kisner holds a one-shot lead heading into the final day of the US PGA Championship following a dramatic finish to third round at Quail Hollow Club, where the famously challenging final three holes claimed numerous victims.

Kisner himself emerged from the so-called ‘Green Mile’ with three dropped shots after a double-bogey at the 16^th and a bogey at the last to sign for a one over 72 and a seven under total, while his American compatriot Chris Stroud finished with back-to-back bogeys for a 71 to share second place with Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama.

Matsuyama, winner of last week’s WGC-Bridgestone-Invitational, emerged unscathed from the brutal final three holes to finish with a 73 and keep his hopes of a first Major title alive, while Justin Thomas (69) of the USA and South African Louis Oosthuizen (71) are a shot further back on five under.

The most dramatic collapse came courtesy of Jason Day’s quadruple-bogey eight after attempting a miracle shot from behind a tree, ultimately in vain, as the Australian – playing in the final group - saw his hopes of a second US PGA Championship title fade in one disastrous hole.

Italian Francesco Molinari endured a tough start to his third round at the North Carolina venue as he started double bogey-bogey-bogey but he battled to a three over 74 and remains within touching distance, five strokes off the pace on two under.

Player quotes

Kevin Kisner

“I'm happy I'm in the position I'm in. I had a chance to run away from guys and take people out of the tournament that were four, five or six back, and I didn't do it. Now I'm in a dogfight tomorrow and I have to be prepared for that.

“I've been happy with the driver all week. I drove it really well, and then today I hit a lot of great putts that just burned edges and I thought the greens were more difficult to hold putts. Nobody in our group made hardly anything. Obviously not many in the field did, with the scores, and hopefully tomorrow, they will all start falling.

“I'm pretty good at keeping it all in, and you know, the golf course here is so hard - if you get annoyed, you're just going to throw away more shots. There's no real reason to show that emotion. I'll show plenty of emotion if I win tomorrow, don't worry.”

Chris Stroud

“The number one thing for me was, I didn't really hit a lot of great shots but I didn't really hit a lot of really bad shots. My bad shots were in play, especially off the tee. I hit a few loose drives, but it was always playable and I made a lot of great up-and-downs, especially early.

“And then I hit a few nice shots in the middle of the round. I didn't really make many putts, but I made some nice saves today. The golf course played very difficult, and obviously the last two holes -- I bogeyed the last two. I didn't hit a good putt on 17, I kind of pulled that and it almost went in. On 18, I hit the best putt of the day and it didn't go in.

“I've made a fair share of putts this week. I'm not upset about it. I'm just happy to have a chance to win tomorrow and see what happens.”

Hideki Matsuyama

“I'm disappointed the way I played today. However, I'm happy to just to be one stroke back and still have a chance and looking forward to tomorrow.

“Probably the pressure had something to do with it, being in the last group of a major tournament. But all week I haven't been spot on all week. And the worries that I had about my swing showed up today in the way I played.”

Louis Oosthuizen

“I looked up just before I hit it and I told my caddie, I’ll show you a little trick shot here. I saw something in front of the ball but I didn’t think it was a root – I thought it was something loose. I banged the eight iron against it pretty bad and immediately my forearm got a shock.

“Then in the next five minutes it started to cramp up and it got really tight. Luckily on six we had a bit of a wait and my physio could release it a bit. I felt it a little bit on the 14^th tee again on a different spot but I was never hurt so it was fine. I was just scared it was going to tighten up really badly but it should be fine.”

Francesco Molinari

“It was just the start that was so disappointing. I hit a bad tee shot on the first, should have gotten away with a bogey but three-putted from the back. The second was unlucky because I got it on the middle of the fairway and the sedond shot just came out straight left.

“Then there was another pulled tee-shot on the third and a terrible lie so it wasn’t the start I was looking for. I managed to hang on though and the reaction after that was good.
"I didn’t have my A-game today but I fought hard, made birdies where I could and all in all, there’s a bitter taste but I’m happy with the way I fought after the start.

“We saw on the second day you can shoot 66 or 67 around here, it’s not easy at all but if I hit the ball like I did on the second day off the tee – hitting the fairway most of the time – I’ll have a fair amount of chances.

“Hopefully it will be a little less hot than today because it was roasting out there and hopefully quicker too because it’s a long time to be out there in these temperatures. Physically it was hard too.

“This is what we train for, to be in a position like this in a Major. Obviously after yesterday I would have hoped to be a bit closer but I’m still going in top ten and that’s good and if I can’t challenge for the title I should try to finish as high as I possibly can anyway.”

Scores
par 213 (3x71)

206 Kevin Kisner 67 67 72
207 Chris Stroud 68 68 71, Hideki Matsuyama 70 64 73.
208 Justin Thomas L73 66 69, Louis Oosthuizen 70 67 71
210 Grayson Murray 68 73 69
211 Graham DeLaet 70 76 68, Patrick Reed 69 73 69, Gary Woodland 68 74 69, Scott Brown 73 68 70, Francesco Molinari 73 64 74.
212 Chez Reavie 72 70 70, Sung Kang 70 71 71, Ryan Fox 75 66 71, Rickie Fowler 69 70 74.
213 Paul Casey 69 70 74, Jason Day 70 66 77. 
214 J B Holmes 74 73 67, Satoshi Kodaira 71 76 67, Henrik Stenson 74 70 70, Robert Streb 74 70 70, Chris Wood 72 72 70, James Hahn 73 70 71, Tony Finau 69 74 71, Byeong Hun An 71 69 74. 
215 Billy Horschel  76 70 69, Pat Perez 70 76 69, Richard Sterne 73 72 70, Jordan Smith 70 75 70, Matt Kuchar 71 74 70, Zach Johnson 71 73 71, Brian Harman 69 75 71, Patrick Cantlay , Ryan Moore 71 71 73, Brooks Koepka 68 73 74, D A Points 68 73 74 
216 Kevin Chappell 72 75 69, Sean O'Hair 71 75 70, Thorbjørn Olesen 67 78 71, David Lingmerth 72 73 71, Jordan Spieth 72 73 71, Ian Poulter 74 71 71, Jon Rahm 70 75 71, Jim Herman 69 75 72, Charl Schwartzel 74 70 72, Bryson DeChambeau
217 Kelly Kraft; Marc Leishman; Jamie Lovemark; Steve Stricker; Lucas Glover; Jason Kokrak; Keegan Bradley; Dustin Johnson 70 74 73, Bill Haas; Rory McIlroy 72 72 73, Shane Lowry 74 69 74, Bud Cauley
218 Jason Dufner; Webb Simpson; Tommy Fleetwood; Alex Noren
219 Charley Hoffman
220 K.T. Kim; Hideto Tanihara; Lee Westwood; Daniel Summerhays
221 Cody Gribble; Adam Scott; Anirban Lahiri; Dylan Frittelli
223 Russell Henley
224 Vijay Singh; Omar Uresti
225 Charles Howell II
 

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