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After two rounds of unpredictability at the PGA Championship, the cream rose to the top on Saturday at Quail Hollow. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler took over the tournament on the back nine, grabbing a three-shot lead with a 6-under 65 to sign for the best round on the course.
Scheffler started the day three shots back of 36-hole leader Jhonattan Vegas, who started his round with a pair of bogeys to fall back to the field.
The two-time Masters champion started his day with a bogey of his own, but responded with three birdies to close his front nine at 2-under par and 7-under for the tournament.
Scheffler then sandwiched a masterful birdie at No. 12 with a pair of bogeys at 11 and 13 before he started to really tighten the screw and take control of the tournament. On the drivable par-4 14th, Scheffler caused a roar in the crowd with an excellent tee shot to set up a short eagle putt.
That got the Texas native back into the lead at 8-under par, but he wasn’t done there. Just minutes after Alex Noren tied the lead, Scheffler inched back in front with a birdie on the par-5 15th.
Of course, The Green Mile can ruin even the best of rounds. Just ask Bryson DeChambeau, who saw his Saturday go up in flames with a 3-over par finish in the final three holes.
Scheffler had no such trouble, following up a rock-solid par at the 16th with a pair of mid-range makes for birdies on 17 and 18 to cap off a stretch of 5-under over the final five holes.
Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images
It will take a great effort to keep Scheffler from lifting his first Wanamaker trophy on Sunday. After a rocky start to his week, the top-ranked player in the world showed off everything in his arsenal on moving day, leading the field in strokes gained both off the tee and on approach shots during the third round.
If he can put together another round like he had on Saturday, it will be nearly impossible to keep him from major No. 3.
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