LAST UPDATE | 22 May 2022
IRELAND’S SÉAMUS POWER is just six shots off the current leader Mito Pereira of Chile after an impressive third-round display in the PGA Championship at the Southern Hills Country Club. His three-under 67 leaves him on three-under for the tournament, and briefly gave him the clubhouse lead.
In just his second major appearance, Power grabbed six birdies in all, including back-to-back birdies on the fourth and fifth holes, and four birdies between the 12th and 17th holes. That leaves him in sixth place and nicely positioned heading into the final day.
Speaking to Sky Sports after his third round, a delighted Power said:
“I felt comfortable today. It was 180 degrees and just trying to figure out the golf course, you’re basically learning a new sport. We did our best with it, and those birdies made all the difference.
“You’re still hoping nobody gets too far away but my game feels good and seeing a few putts go in towards the end of the round was nice and gives you a lot of confidence. So hopefully it’ll be good tomorrow.”
Pereira went from one behind playing partner Will Zalatoris to four ahead in the space of six holes, then saw his lead cut to a single shot after four bogeys in five holes around the turn before back-to-back birdies on 13 and 14.
The 27-year-old from Chile also birdied the last to card a 69 and finish nine-under par, with Matt Fitzpatrick and Zalatoris – who recovered from playing his first seven holes in four over to return a 73 – on six under, while Rory McIlroy fell nine shots adrift following a disappointing 74.
McIlroy began the day five shots off the lead but dropped four shots in three holes from the sixth before a birdie on the ninth seemingly steadied the ship.
A triple bogey on the 11th effectively ended the first round leader’s chances and although he birdied the 13th and came agonisingly close to a hole-in-one on the next, a birdie on the 16th was followed by a three-putt bogey on the last.
Having made the cut on the mark of four over par, American Webb Simpson jumped 54 places up the leaderboard courtesy of a superb 65, the lowest score of the day.
Simpson’s score was what Tiger Woods had been targeting after making the halfway cut with a shot to spare, but the 15-time major winner struggled to a 79 and admitted afterwards he was not certain to play the final round.
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