BRENDON TODD CLUNG to a one-stroke lead after Saturday’s third round of the WGC St. Jude Invitational with South Korea’s An Byeoung-hun, Justin Thomas and Phil Mickelson making a charge.
Todd, trying to win his third title of a coronavirus-interrupted 2019-20 PGA season, scrambled to a one-under par 69 to stand on 12-under 198 for 54 holes at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.
An, still chasing his first US PGA victory, answered a double bogey at 11 with birdies on four of the last six holes to shoot 66 and reach 199 to join the American in Sunday’s final duo.
American Rickie Fowler was third on 200 with defending champion Brooks Koepka fourth on 201 and Thomas fifth on 202 after a 66.
50-year-old Mickelson shot 66 to join a pack in sixth on 203 that included South African Louis Oosthuizen, England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick and American Chez Reavie.
Todd, who led by two when the day began, opened with a 14-foot birdie putt, took a bogey when he missed the fairway and green at the par-4 fifth and birdied the par-3 eighth on a 22-foot putt.
But he struggled with three bogeys and three birdies on the back side, the highlights being a 15-foot birdie putt at the par-4 12th and a birdie at the par-5 16th after sending his second shot into a greenside bunker.
He blasted out and sank a 16-foot birdie putt only to bogey 17 and miss a seven-foot birdie putt ahead of parring the last.
Shane Lowry flew the Irish flag with an improved round three 67. He sits in joint-10th on six-under after rounds of 68 and 69 on Thursday and Friday respectively.
There was disappointment for Rory McIlroy, as he tumbled down the leaderboard after carding another nightmare round of 73. After a sizzling 66 yesterday, he now finds himself sharing 53rd place on two-over par.
And Graeme McDowell recorded a round of 70 for the second day in-a-row.
You can follow the leaderboard here.
- Additional reporting from The42 Team
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
