Absorbing Sunday PGA Shootout likely at Valhalla
Collin Morikawa en route to a share of the 54 hole lead – image PGA of America
With just one round remaining at the 2024 PGA Championship in Louisville Kentucky, 15 players are within five shots of the lead held by Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele and with only five of those previous major championship winners, Championship Sunday at the Valhalla Golf Club promises not only a shootout but the possible emergence of a new major champion.
Morikawa and Schaufelle at 15 under par lead by one over Sahith Theegala with another shot back to Shane Lowry, Bryson DeChambeau and Victor Hovland, Schauffele taking a share of the lead into the final round, one week after leading into day four at the Well Fargo Championship.
It has been a week of low scoring thus far. 15 players will begin tomorrow’s final round at -10 or better. Prior to this week, the most players that were double digits under par through 54 holes of a major was 7.
Both Shane Lowry and Xander Schauffele have this week become the 4th and 5th players to record the equal lowest rounds in major championship golf , Schauffele’s 62 on Thursday and Lowry’s 62 today having them join Ricky Fowler and Branden Grace in that regard. Schauffele had also recorded a 62 at last year’s US Open.
“I mean, It was easy going there the first round,” said Schauffele. “Everything felt super easy reflecting on putting issues on Friday and today.
“Felt like I’ve had to work for a lot of my birdies the last two days. Haven’t been able to make many putts. I feel like I’m still hitting the ball — I’ve got to look at the stats but feel like I’m hitting the ball pretty nice. If I can just get the putter going a little bit, it should free me up.
“I mean, it’s going to come down to a lot more than that but it kind of feels that way with the greens being receptive and the fairways being receptive. Hopefully it being a little bit — even drier, the ball might roll a little bit more.”
Morikawa already had two major titles, including this one and the Open Championship.
“I’m going to tap in just kind of that mental state I’ve been in, not only those two, but in other tournaments I’ve played well in,” said Morikawa. “I think the goal for me tonight before my tee time is just to be as mentally sharp by that first hole.
“I think looking back at a month ago at Augusta, I felt sharp in everything, but I feel like I could have had a little bit of self-talk before I went out on that first tee and really just not got ahead of myself. Not that I did, but two holes really cost me back there.
“I learned a lot over this past month, over these past two years, over the past five years of being a pro, and we’re going to really just — going to have a talk with myself.
“I normally just kind of go to sleep, eat my dinner, eat my breakfast, wake up and play golf. I think everything that I’ve gone through over the past couple years, I’m ready for these moments. A month ago, I felt like I was ready. Made a couple errors. Tomorrow hopefully we’re not.”
DeChambeau (3rd) and Dean Burmester (9th) are flying the flag for LIV Golf this week, DeChambeau’s chip in for eagle at the last today leaving him right in the firing line for a second major to go with his 2020 US Open victory.
“Exhilarating. I haven’t felt like that in a long time,” said DeChambeau. “The only other time I felt like it was when I shot 58 at Greenbrier. That was pretty exciting there. I was pretty pumped.
“I’ve got a good chance. I’m not executing to the level that I know I can, but playing well enough to give myself a chance, obviously.
“Got to keep strategizing around this golf course and putting the golf ball in the right areas and miss it in the right place and hit a bunch of greens out here. It’s iron play. The key is iron play this week and haven’t done my best but got up-and-down nicely.”
The leading Australian is Lucas Herbert who is currently in a share of 16th place and six shots from the lead.
Jason Day is next best in 29th place at 6 under and nine behind the leading pair.
Lucas Herbert leading the Australians – in action this week – image PGA of America
