Schauffele and Morikawa lead as Lowry shoots 62
The 106th US PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky is literally shaking-up the world of golf this week (16-19 May). Not only was Xander Schauffele’s brilliant opening round of 62 equalled by Shane Lowry (Ireland) in the third round, but the World Number One golfer, Scottie Scheffler, was taken to the police station after being arrested outside the course in the early hours of Friday morning after an unfortunate misunderstanding.
In the early hours of Friday, Scottie Scheffler was on his way to Valhalla golf course in the dark and rain. It ended-up a chaotic start to the day as the best golfer in the world was asked to wait patiently amidst enormous traffic problems caused by the tragic death of someone heading to the club right outside the entrance. An unfortunate misunderstanding followed between the police and Scheffler whereby the player from Texas ended-up being arrested and taken to the police station.
In all the confusion, Scottie Scheffler managed to keep his head clear and focus on the very faint hope of being able to return to Valhalla GC to play his second round. His prayers were answered. The 27-year old played an unbelievably incredible round of 66 to get to 9-under for the tournament to share fourth spot with fellow-Americans Bryson DeChambeau and Mark Hubbard, and Thomas Detry from Belgium.
The leader of day one, American Xander Schauffele, had another good day on Friday when he shot a 4-under par 68. His aggregate of 130 gave him a tiny one shot lead over the 2020 US PGA Champion from America, Collin Morikawa. The 27-year old from California created two special rounds of 66 and 65. Another American in the mix is Sahith Theegala who opened with a 65 and then shot a 67 for an encouraging third spot on 10-under.
Due to a delayed start on Friday, not all players were able to complete their second rounds due to darkness which meant a very early start for them on Saturday. Players like South African Dean Burmester, who scored an impressive 69 on day one, had to return early on Saturday to play the 17th and 18th holes.
Although defending champion, Brooks Koepka, is five strokes off the lead, he is hovering with anticipation in a share of 11th position with rounds of 67 and 68 for a 7-under par total.
Bye, bye players
The halfway cut comes as a tough blow. And so it was that after 36 holes, some big names headed home. A total of 78 players made the cut which came at 141 leaving great golfers like 2023 Masters Champion Jon Rahm, US Open Champion Wyndham Clark and multi-Major winner from America Phil Mickelson bitterly disappointed. Good news for England’s Tommy Fleetwood. He made an eagle at the 18th to just make the cut.
Glorious weather on day three
Sunshine greeted the players on Saturday which gave the leaders Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa chance to bathe in glory.
Morikawa made a birdie at the 5th to take a share of the lead with Schauffele on 12-under par. Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Rose and Sahith Theegala were tucked-in behind them in a share of third spot on 10-under.
However, as time ticked on, the leaders struggled to pull away from the chasing pack. Shane Lowry was creating magic around Valhalla. Justin Rose was hot on his tail. America’s Tony Finau had a spell of three birdies on the trot. And Justin Thomas thrilled the crowds by chipping in for birdie at the par-3 14th hole.
No sooner had Schauffele and Lowry a share of the lead on 13-under par, then the 30-year old Californian had popped in another birdie for the outright lead.
Schauffele’s glory was short-lived because he then carded a double-bogey on the 446-yard 14th. One hole later Collin Morikawa made a birdie to lead the event. The match to clinch the 106th US PGA Championship title was alive and kicking.
Schauffele then birdied the 17th hole leading to an intense battle down the last. Both Schauffele and Morikawa finally birdied the par 5, 575-yard final hole. And that means we have a wonderful round ahead of us for Sunday when Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa tee-off on a score of 15-under par with America’s Sahith Theegala just one stroke behind on 14-under.
Lowry shoots a 62 on day three
Ireland’s Shane Lowry had a superb round on Saturday where he just kept on rolling some splendid birdie putts in the hole. The 37-year old from County Offaly opened his round with four straight birdies which he followed with birdies at the 7th and 9th to go out in an incredibly low score of 29.
More birdies came at the 13th and 14th which left Lowry in the enviable position of possibly shooting an awesome record-breaking 61 at Valhalla GC. At this point, he had become co-leader with Schauffele and Collin Morikawa on 12-under.
At the par-4 17th hole, he struck his ninth birdie. Now all he needed was to secure a solid birdie down the 575 yard, par-5 18th hole for a 61.
Driven by his enthusiastic English friend, Justin Rose, they both decided to edge each other on to challenge Xander Schauffele’s leading score. And so it was that Lowry kept his cool down the last hole. On the green safely for three, alas, the Irish golfer sadly let his second putt just slip by the hole. He carded a par at the 18th to secure yet another 9-under par 62 at Valhalla GC and join Xander Schauffele in the history books as the fifth par 62 ever in a Major championship.
Lowry’s 62 saw him fly high on the leaderboard to finish in a share of fourth position with Bryson DeChambeau (USA) and Viktor Hovland (Norway) on 13-under par.
Meanwhile his playing partner, Justin Rose, also had a delightful third round where he finished with a 7-under par 64 to seize a share of seventh spot with Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre on 12-under par.
Sunday promises to be another wonderful day at Valhalla Golf Course in Kentucky, so please sit back and enjoy the golf!
Wendy Hoad
Editor
MAIN PHOTOGRAPH: America’s Collin Morikawa clinches the shared lead with Xander Schauffele in the US PGA Championship. MINIS (l-r): Scottie Scheffler, Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa and Thomas Detry.