AHEAD OF THE PACK AT US PGA
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FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM
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FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
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Rory McIlroy leads at Valhalla but Sunday promises to not be a walk in the park. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky -- Bernd Wiesberger quickly did the maths.
Just over 8 million people, roughly the population of New York City, live in Austria, where he was born, and about 100,000 of those play golf. So Wiesberger figures there will be about 90,000 people pulling for him on Sunday when he plays with Rory McIlroy in the final pairing of the final round of the 96th US PGA Championship.
The interest level worldwide, though, is sure to be a lot higher, given the calibre of the leaderboard and the closeness of the competition.
McIlroy, who is bidding to win his second straight major, only tops Wiesberger by one at 13 under, and another 16 players will begin the final 18 holes at Valhalla within six strokes of the lead.
That cast includes Rickie Fowler, who tied for second at the last two majors and fifth at the Masters, and his good buddy, Phil Mickelson, a five-time major champion, playing with the colorful millennial in the penultimate group. Fowler is alone at 11 under while Mickelson another stroke back, tied with one more of the game's rising stars in Australia's Jason Day.
It's a far cry from the last two times the game's best players convened to determine a major champion. McIlroy took at six-stroke lead into the final round at Royal Liverpool and Martin Kaymer was five ahead at Pinehurst No. 2 in the U.S. Open in June..
Just over 8 million people, roughly the population of New York City, live in Austria, where he was born, and about 100,000 of those play golf. So Wiesberger figures there will be about 90,000 people pulling for him on Sunday when he plays with Rory McIlroy in the final pairing of the final round of the 96th US PGA Championship.
The interest level worldwide, though, is sure to be a lot higher, given the calibre of the leaderboard and the closeness of the competition.
McIlroy, who is bidding to win his second straight major, only tops Wiesberger by one at 13 under, and another 16 players will begin the final 18 holes at Valhalla within six strokes of the lead.
That cast includes Rickie Fowler, who tied for second at the last two majors and fifth at the Masters, and his good buddy, Phil Mickelson, a five-time major champion, playing with the colorful millennial in the penultimate group. Fowler is alone at 11 under while Mickelson another stroke back, tied with one more of the game's rising stars in Australia's Jason Day.
It's a far cry from the last two times the game's best players convened to determine a major champion. McIlroy took at six-stroke lead into the final round at Royal Liverpool and Martin Kaymer was five ahead at Pinehurst No. 2 in the U.S. Open in June..
"I would say that leaderboard is the most jam-packed it's been, maybe
since the start of the final round at the Masters," Fowler said. "This
one's out there for the taking, for sure.
"Anyone can go out and post a number tomorrow. With the way the golf course is playing, it's not out of the question that someone can go shoot 8 or 9 under; being five, six, seven shots back, post early and you never know what can happen.
"It's wide open and someone is going to have to play some good, solid golf tomorrow to win."
You can be certain McIlroy will. Even on Saturday, the world No. 1 managed to shoot his second straight 67 without "really having some of my best stuff," and he responded to Wiesberger's brief challenge on the back nine with three birdies in his last four holes.
Valhalla, which is hosting the PGA this week for the third time since 1996, will certainly have a say in Sunday's outcome. But not necessarily in the way many majors are decided with the course yielding birdies grudgingly and distributing bogeys, doubles and others with apparent delight.
The Jack Nicklaus design may have a sub-air system under the lush Kentucky bluegrass but the fact remains that the course has absorbed several heavy downpours over the last 48 hours and it's soft. The cumulative scoring average is less than a stroke above par, and you can bet the contenders will be in full attack mode on Sunday when there is a 60 percent chance of rain.
"You don't get that opportunity every time you play a major," said former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, who is tied at 9 under. "It should be fun."
But no matter what McIlroy's lead is -- or even if he's trailing, as he was by three last week when he overtook Sergio Garcia to win the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational -- the 25-year-old is supremely confident right now. He's already won three legs of the career Grand Slam by a combined total of 18 strokes.
"The guys got pretty close to me at The Open Championship," McIlroy said. "They got close to me again today, and I was able to respond like I did on the back nine.
"It's not the biggest lead I've ever had, but I'm still in control of this golf tournament and it's a great position to be in going into tomorrow."
THIRD ROUND SCOREBOARD
Final round tee off local time listed
"Anyone can go out and post a number tomorrow. With the way the golf course is playing, it's not out of the question that someone can go shoot 8 or 9 under; being five, six, seven shots back, post early and you never know what can happen.
"It's wide open and someone is going to have to play some good, solid golf tomorrow to win."
You can be certain McIlroy will. Even on Saturday, the world No. 1 managed to shoot his second straight 67 without "really having some of my best stuff," and he responded to Wiesberger's brief challenge on the back nine with three birdies in his last four holes.
Valhalla, which is hosting the PGA this week for the third time since 1996, will certainly have a say in Sunday's outcome. But not necessarily in the way many majors are decided with the course yielding birdies grudgingly and distributing bogeys, doubles and others with apparent delight.
The Jack Nicklaus design may have a sub-air system under the lush Kentucky bluegrass but the fact remains that the course has absorbed several heavy downpours over the last 48 hours and it's soft. The cumulative scoring average is less than a stroke above par, and you can bet the contenders will be in full attack mode on Sunday when there is a 60 percent chance of rain.
"You don't get that opportunity every time you play a major," said former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, who is tied at 9 under. "It should be fun."
But no matter what McIlroy's lead is -- or even if he's trailing, as he was by three last week when he overtook Sergio Garcia to win the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational -- the 25-year-old is supremely confident right now. He's already won three legs of the career Grand Slam by a combined total of 18 strokes.
"The guys got pretty close to me at The Open Championship," McIlroy said. "They got close to me again today, and I was able to respond like I did on the back nine.
"It's not the biggest lead I've ever had, but I'm still in control of this golf tournament and it's a great position to be in going into tomorrow."
THIRD ROUND SCOREBOARD
Final round tee off local time listed
| os | Name | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Today | Thru | Total | Strokes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rory McIlroy | 66 | 67 | 67 | 2:55 pm | -4 | F | -13 | 200 |
| 2 | Bernd Wiesberger | 68 | 68 | 65 | 2:55 pm | -6 | F | -12 | 201 |
| 3 | Rickie Fowler | 69 | 66 | 67 | 2:45 pm | -4 | F | -11 | 202 |
| T4 | Phil Mickelson | 69 | 67 | 67 | 2:45 pm | -4 | F | -10 | 203 |
| T4 | Jason Day | 69 | 65 | 69 | 2:35 pm | -2 | F | -10 | 203 |
| T6 | Louis Oosthuizen | 70 | 67 | 67 | 2:35 pm | -4 | F | -9 | 204 |
| T6 | Henrik Stenson | 66 | 71 | 67 | 2:25 pm | -4 | F | -9 | 204 |
| T6 | Mikko Ilonen | 67 | 68 | 69 | 2:25 pm | -2 | F | -9 | 204 |
| T6 | Ryan Palmer | 65 | 70 | 69 | 2:15 pm | -2 | F | -9 | 204 |
| T10 | Jamie Donaldson | 69 | 70 | 66 | 2:15 pm | -5 | F | -8 | 205 |
| T10 | Graham DeLaet | 69 | 68 | 68 | 2:05 pm | -3 | F | -8 | 205 |
| T10 | Steve Stricker | 69 | 68 | 68 | 2:05 pm | -3 | F | -8 | 205 |
| T13 | Hunter Mahan | 70 | 71 | 65 | 1:55 pm | -6 | F | -7 | 206 |
| T13 | Adam Scott | 71 | 69 | 66 | 1:55 pm | -5 | F | -7 | 206 |
| T13 | Kevin Chappell | 65 | 74 | 67 | 1:45 pm | -4 | F | -7 | 206 |
| T13 | Lee Westwood | 65 | 72 | 69 | 1:45 pm | -2 | F | -7 | 206 |
| T13 | Joost Luiten | 68 | 69 | 69 | 1:25 pm | -2 | F | -7 | 206 |
| T13 | Jim Furyk | 66 | 68 | 72 | 1:25 pm | +1 | F | -7 | 206 |
| T19 | Brandt Snedeker | 73 | 68 | 66 | 1:15 pm | -5 | F | -6 | 207 |
| T19 | Danny Willett | 68 | 73 | 66 | 1:15 pm | -5 | F | -6 | 207 |
| T19 | Bill Haas | 71 | 68 | 68 | 1:05 pm | -3 | F | -6 | 207 |
| T19 | Victor Dubuisson | 69 | 68 | 70 | 1:05 pm | -1 | F | -6 | 207 |
| T23 | Marc Warren | 71 | 71 | 66 | 12:55 pm | -5 | F | -5 | 208 |
| T23 | Brooks Koepka | 71 | 71 | 66 | 12:55 pm | -5 | F | -5 | 208 |
| T23 | Sergio Garcia | 70 | 72 | 66 | 12:45 pm | -5 | F | -5 | 208 |
| T23 | Ryan Moore | 73 | 68 | 67 | 12:45 pm | -4 | F | -5 | 208 |
| T23 | Jimmy Walker | 69 | 71 | 68 | 12:35 pm | -3 | F | -5 | 208 |
| T23 | Ernie Els | 70 | 70 | 68 | 12:35 pm | -3 | F | -5 | 208 |
| T23 | Alexander Levy | 69 | 71 | 68 | 12:25 pm | -3 | F | -5 | 208 |
| T23 | Billy Horschel | 71 | 68 | 69 | 12:25 pm | -2 | F | -5 | 208 |
| T23 | Nick Watney | 69 | 69 | 70 | 12:15 pm | -1 | F | -5 | 208 |
| T32 | Justin Rose | 70 | 72 | 67 | 12:15 pm | -4 | F | -4 | 209 |
| T32 | Jonas Blixt | 71 | 70 | 68 | 11:55 am | -3 | F | -4 | 209 |
| T32 | Brian Harman | 71 | 69 | 69 | 11:55 am | -2 | F | -4 | 209 |
| T32 | Charl Schwartzel | 72 | 68 | 69 | 11:45 am | -2 | F | -4 | 209 |
| T32 | J.B. Holmes | 68 | 72 | 69 | 11:45 am | -2 | F | -4 | 209 |
| T32 | Chris Wood | 66 | 73 | 70 | 11:35 am | -1 | F | -4 | 209 |
| T38 | Daniel Summerhays | 70 | 72 | 68 | 11:35 am | -3 | F | -3 | 210 |
| T38 | Luke Donald | 70 | 72 | 68 | 11:25 am | -3 | F | -3 | 210 |
| T38 | Kenny Perry | 72 | 69 | 69 | 11:25 am | -2 | F | -3 | 210 |
| T38 | Edoardo Molinari | 66 | 73 | 71 | 11:15 am | E | F | -3 | 210 |
| T42 | Branden Grace | 73 | 70 | 68 | 11:15 am | -3 | F | -2 | 211 |
| T42 | Patrick Reed | 70 | 71 | 70 | 11:05 am | -1 | F | -2 | 211 |
| T42 | Jerry Kelly | 67 | 74 | 70 | 11:05 am | -1 | F | -2 | 211 |
| T42 | Scott Brown | 71 | 70 | 70 | 10:55 am | -1 | F | -2 | 211 |
| T42 | Geoff Ogilvy | 69 | 71 | 71 | 10:55 am | E | F | -2 | 211 |
| T42 | Cameron Tringale | 69 | 71 | 71 | 10:45 am | E | F | -2 | 211 |
| T42 | Matt Jones | 68 | 71 | 72 | 10:45 am | +1 | F | -2 | 211 |
| T42 | Richard Sterne | 70 | 69 | 72 | 10:25 am | +1 | F | -2 | 211 |
| T50 | Zach Johnson | 70 | 72 | 70 | 10:25 am | -1 | F | -1 | 212 |
| T50 | Thorbjorn Olesen | 71 | 71 | 70 | 10:15 am | -1 | F | -1 | 212 |
| T50 | Ian Poulter | 68 | 73 | 71 | 10:15 am | E | F | -1 | 212 |
| T50 | Fabrizio Zanotti | 71 | 70 | 71 | 10:05 am | E | F | -1 | 212 |
| T50 | Brendon de Jonge | 70 | 70 | 72 | 10:05 am | +1 | F | -1 | 212 |
| T50 | Vijay Singh | 71 | 68 | 73 | 9:55 am | +2 | F | -1 | 212 |
| T56 | Hideki Matsuyama | 71 | 72 | 70 | 9:55 am | -1 | F | E | 213 |
| T56 | Pat Perez | 71 | 71 | 71 | 9:45 am | E | F | E | 213 |
| T56 | Jason Bohn | 71 | 71 | 71 | 9:45 am | E | F | E | 213 |
| T56 | Koumei Oda | 74 | 68 | 71 | 9:35 am | E | F | E | 213 |
| T56 | Francesco Molinari | 71 | 71 | 71 | 9:35 am | E | F | E | 213 |
| T56 | Kevin Stadler | 71 | 70 | 72 | 9:25 am | +1 | F | E | 213 |
| T56 | Gonzalo Fernandez-Casta | 71 | 70 | 72 | 9:25 am | +1 | F | E | 213 |
| T63 | Graeme McDowell | 73 | 70 | 71 | 9:15 am | E | F | +1 | 214 |
| T63 | Marc Leishman | 71 | 71 | 72 | 9:15 am | +1 | F | +1 | 214 |
| T63 | Colin Montgomerie | 70 | 72 | 72 | 9:05 am | +1 | F | +1 | 214 |
| T63 | Brendan Steele | 71 | 70 | 73 | 9:05 am | +2 | F | +1 | 214 |
| T63 | Fredrik Jacobson | 72 | 69 | 73 | 8:55 am | +2 | F | +1 | 214 |
| T63 | Rafael Cabrera-Bello | 69 | 71 | 74 | 8:55 am | +3 | F | +1 | 214 |
| T63 | Robert Karlsson | 71 | 69 | 74 | 8:45 am | +3 | F | +1 | 214 |
| T70 | Shawn Stefani | 68 | 75 | 72 | 8:45 am | +1 | F | +2 | 215 |
| T70 | Bubba Watson | 70 | 72 | 73 | 8:35 am | +2 | F | +2 | 215 |
| T72 | Chris Stroud | 70 | 73 | 73 | 8:35 am | +2 | F | +3 | 216 |
| T72 | Shane Lowry | 68 | 74 | 74 | 8:25 am | +3 | F | +3 | 216 |
| 74 | Brendon Todd | 70 | 73 | 75 | 8:25 am |
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