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HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick shot his greatest spherical on the PGA Tour with a 63 on Saturday for a 1-shot lead over Patrick Cantlay by three rounds on the RBC Heritage.
Fitzpatrick had six birdies and an eagle when he holed out from 149 yards away on the par-4 third gap. He was at 14-under 199, poised for his first tour win since that main title 10 months in the past.
“For me, that is ideally the beginning you want on a Saturday, is not it?” Fitzpatrick mentioned of the surprising hole-out. “It simply will get you off to a great begin.”
Cantlay, who misplaced in a playoff to Jordan Spieth a 12 months in the past, shot 66 to maneuver to 13 below and into place for an additional attempt on the tartan plaid winner’s jacket.
Spieth was additionally once more within the hunt, one other stroke again after a 66. He is searching for to do one thing he hasn’t in his profession — defend a title.
World No. 2 Scottie Scheffler and second-round chief Jimmy Walker have been amongst 5 gamers tied at 11 below. Scheffler shot 69 and Walker 72.
Walker, who opened 65-65, reached 14 below and was tied with Fitzpatrick earlier than blowing up with three bogeys on the again 9 and falling again.
Walker missed a par putt inside 2 toes on the eleventh to fall out of first. Then, his tee shot on the par-3 14th caromed off a wooden piling and manner off the inexperienced, resulting in a second bogey.
On the par-5 fifteenth, Walker’s second shot appeared to remain in one of many tall, stately bushes that entrance the inexperienced, or no less than there was no video proof his ball splashed into the water hazard alongside. Walker took a 1-stroke penalty and had a 3rd bogey in a five-hole stretch.
Masters champion Jon Rahm gave spectators who’ve celebrated his second main victory all week one thing to scream about at Harbour City Golf Hyperlinks when he opened with three straight birdies and closed to inside 3 strokes of the lead.
However the feel-good, Rahm-com storyline fell aside on the par-3 fourth when his tee shot stopped on a wooden going through wanting the water. He adopted with a one-handed backhand shot that stopped 65 toes from the cup and wanted three putts for a double bogey. Rahm by no means discovered that very same swagger the remainder of the best way.
The world’s No. 1 participant completed at 8-under after a 69 and is eighteen holes away from a well-deserved relaxation after successful at Augusta Nationwide final week for his second main title. He’ll return to the tour in two weeks to defend his Mexico Championship title.
Fitzpatrick has struggled a lot of the 12 months, lacking 4 cuts in his previous seven occasions earlier than arriving at Augusta Nationwide final week. That is the place he completed tied for tenth and got here to one in every of his favourite programs — he has performed this match eight seasons — with confidence.
“I believe this can be a golf course that is proven that there are low scores round right here this week,” mentioned Fitzpatrick, whose household took holidays to Sea Pines Resort when he was a toddler.
Fitzpatrick performed Harbour City as a younger man and took tennis classes on the inexperienced clay courts that used to host the WTA’s annual professional tennis match, now referred to as the Charleston Open. How was his tennis recreation?
“Not so good as my golf recreation on the time,” he mentioned.
Fitzpatrick, who surpassed his earlier tour low of 64 final achieved at this venue two years in the past, seems so as to add a championship trophy to his Harbour City recollections.
Cantlay has had 4 top-seven finishes at Harbour City in 5 earlier appearances. He had birdies on three of his first six holes to present himself an opportunity at one other excessive end.
“I’ve had a great monitor document round this golf course and had quite a few possibilities, so must be nothing new tomorrow,” he mentioned.
Fitzpatrick was lowest on a picture-perfect Saturday custom-made for going low — and loads of golfers achieved that at Harbour City.
Former PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley completed off a 64 earlier than lunch, whereas Chez Reavie had a 65 to get himself into the highest 10. In all, 37 of the 73 rivals completed within the 60s.
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