Jon Rahm – Photo Donald Miralle – Getty Images
This week the PGA Tour heads east to Scottsdale in the outer suburbs of Phoenix for the highly popular Waste Management Phoenix Open at the TPC Scottsdale and after several Australians have been part of recent events on the 2021 PGA Tour only two will tee it up this week.
Jason Day and Matt Jones will take on a field including leading players John Rahm, Rory McIlory, Xander Schauffele and Justin Thomas and so they face a big task if they are to become the first Australian to win the event since Aaron Baddeley in 2007 and just the second overall.
The event is typically the most attended on the PGA Tour in normal times and while the 100,000 daily figures are the norm but no longer possible given COVID restrictions, a concession has been made for the public this week with 5000 per day able to enter the golf course.
Day will play the event for just the 4th occasion and with a best of 20th previously it is a venue that has not seen him near his best. In his only start this year, Day missed the cut at last week’s Farmers Insurance Open so in terms of his record in the event and his current form there is not a lot to get excited about for Day.
Jones will tee it up for the 10th occasion and with a best of 12th in 2014 and no other top 30 finishes in the remainder it appears his chances of faring a lot better are slim.
Jones is, though, playing solidly if unspectacularly of late, an 11th place finish at the Sony Open an indication of his game being in at least reasonable shape.
Jon Rahm will likely start as the favourite as his nearest opponent in the world rankings and playing this week, Rory McIlroy will play the event for the first occasion. Rahm has been 1st or 2nd in the world ranking for nearly 12 months now and has finished a very respectable 7th in each of his last three starts on the PGA Tour including at the Masters.
Three top tens in five starts in this event in his hometown aid his cause and expect to see him very much in the thick of things on Sunday.
“It’s a home event,” said Rahm when asked why he likes the tournament so much. “Get to sleep in my own bed, so it’s nice. The traveling is not too much, especially coming from San Diego. A lot of good memories.
“Obviously my first cut made on the PGA TOUR was here. Had a great finish as an amateur, and the whole Sun Devil vibe and just the familiarity with everything, I love the event, love the fans.
“The game is good. One of those sevenths was with different clubs, so put a little asterisk there. And there’s a big difference between the one at Kapalua and the one at Torrey Pines. I had a legit chance of winning at Torrey Pines. Started good on Sunday and just the putter got cold. Didn’t make much on the back nine.
“But the game is there. I feel like I’m getting used to the clubs, getting used to the ball. Still testing a lot of things to make sure they’re set perfectly. You know, when you change clubs, manufacturers, like that, you’ve got to get used to the tendencies of each one to find the perfect one.”
Despite not having played the event previously McIlroy is ticking over nicely this year and given his class he is sure to adapt quickly to the layout and the lack of crowds this year rather than the raucous lot that normally frequent the event might help him in that regard.
“It’s good to be in Phoenix finally,” said McIlroy. “First time here, and there is always — whether it’s been I’ve been playing in the desert in the Middle East and haven’t been able to make it over here, schedule just hasn’t quite fit. I was over here anyway; played Torrey Pines.
“You know, I’ve always been told that this course in Scottsdale would be a good fit for my game, so thought I would try it out this year. Yeah, excited to be here. From what I’ve seen of the golf course, I like it. I like the fit of it.
“Looking forward to getting out there, and, yeah, playing it this week. Going to be good fun.”
Hideki Matsuyama has an enviable record at the Waste Management Phoenix Open having won twice, finished runner-up once and 4th once in seven starts.
Matsuyama is not far off his best once again after just an average year in 2020 and might bounce back on a golf course he would not doubt like to take home with him.
I keep mentioning Korea’s Sungjae Kim and so I will once again. He has played here twice with seven of his eight rounds in the 60’s and a best of 7th on debut in 2019. Im keeps knocking on the door and at some stage soon he will add to his one PGA Tour victory to date.
It will be a different look for the Waste Management Phoenix Open this year but it offers a lot of interest all the same.
Koepka Confirms Comeback with Waste Management Phoenix Open Title
Brooks Koepka – photo Getty Images Christian Petersen
Four time major champion, Brooks Koepka, returned from what he described as a ‘dark place’ to win his 8th PGA Tour title at the Waste Management Phoenix Open in Scottsdale on the outskirts of Phoenix in Arizona.
Koepka, whose last three starts have resulted in missed cuts, had begun to doubt his capacity to return to the level of golf he had played when dominating the elite game in 2018 and 2019 although he maintains his game was in better shape that results suggested.
“My game was, it’s been in really good shape. I really like the way I’ve been playing. You know, just had to stay patient. Just felt like we got through the par-3 on the back, what is that, 12? And my caddie told me I’m still right in the thing. Just need to make some putts.”
“Yeah, you know, I went through it mentally,” said Koepka soon after his victory referring to his return from injury. “I think that’s probably the toughest thing, where you don’t know if you’re ever going to be the same competitor that you were.
“You go through some real dark places, and it’s not a fun place to be. Going to spend time with Derek (injury), three months out in La Jolla changed things for me. It’s just a lot of hard work that’s gone into this. Man, it’s pretty cool.”
Koepka underwent stem cell treatment on his left knee in 2019 to get back to full strength at that stage but then slipped on wet concrete in South Korea, re-injuring the tendon.
Koepka came from five off the 54 hole pace today with a final round of 65 which included two eagles, the most remarkable when holing the most difficult of pitches from off the green at the reachable par 4 17th.
The pitch from a lower area needed to negotiate a couple of greenside sprinklers, take a little speed off in the fringe then release down to the hole. It was inch perfect and beautifully executed.
“I felt like the chip, it was — if I just caught it right in the fringe it was going to check up on me, and it did perfectly. Took a nice little right kick for me, and didn’t look anywhere else but the hole.”
The shot came at the perfect time as it established a two-shot lead which his chasers were unable catch.
Twelve months ago, Koepka was still the number one player in the game but he has slipped to 13th although this win will have him heading back in the right direction both statistically and from the viewpoint of confidence.
Xander Schauffele and K.H. Lee tied for second a shot behind Koepka while the five way tie for 4th included yet another rejuvenated player in Jordan Spieth who recorded his best finish in 18 months, Steve Stricker, who made a bold bid to become the oldest person to win on the PGA Tour and Carlos Ortiz.
Matt Jones was the only Australian to make the cut and finished 30th.
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Despite frustration on the greens today it was an encouraging week for Jordan Spieth. Christian Petersen Getty
Dustin Johnson’s Domination Continues With Saudi Victory
Photo – Getty Images
Dustin Johnson came into the Saudi International as the world number one and a previous winner (2019) and runner-up (2020) in the event so the expectation on him winning this week was already high before the first shot was even struck on Thursday.
It would prove to be the case but two of the event’s other drawcards, Justin Rose and Tony Finau, made it a tough contest, forcing Johnson to pull out all stops to hold them out.
Rose, in particular, had set the mark when, playing 40 minutes ahead of the final group, recording a final round of 65. When Johnson bogeyed the 16th hole he was just one ahead but a birdie at the 17th gave him a two shot advantage which he maintained with a par at the last.
For Johnson it signalled to him and others in the golfing world that his game is in the sort of shape to continue his recent domination of the game. This was just his second event of 2021 but in an ominous warning he summed up the impact the victory might have on him in ongoing months.
“Yeah, it’s tough to win on The European Tour, PGA TOUR, no matter what ranking you are,” said the champion. But yeah, obviously winning as No. 1 is definitely good, and obviously it gives me a little bit more of a lead.
“It gives me a lot of confidence going in for the rest of the year. Obviously, we’re at the beginning of the year, so pleased with how I’m playing and looking forward to the rest of the year.”
Johnson has now finished first or second in six of his last nine events, one of those victory in his second to last event, The Masters.
Johnson first became the world number in February 2017 and has held that mantle for a total of 116 weeks in six different periods. The manner in which he is playing at present, suggests he could add significantly to that total in the year ahead.
For Rose it was his best finish on either the European or PGA Tours since winning the Farmers Insurance Open February of 2019.
Rose was buoyed by his improved showing. “I’ve been working on a lot of stuff but really staying patient,” said the Bahamas based Englishman.
“I haven’t been playing my best golf and easy to get frustrated. I’ve kind of stayed with it, even though this three-week trip, it felt like it’s been slow going, and good golf hasn’t been rewarded and I’ve made silly mistakes. Momentum hasn’t quite been on my side yet. So to play a bogey-free 65 on a Sunday is something to kind of take and fuel the upcoming run.”
New Zealand’s Ryan Fox did best of the Australasians finishing 6th after a final round of 68 although he had closed within two shots of Johnson through 12 holes before bogeys at the 15th and 17th cost him any hope of a possible victory. It was, though, Fox’s best finish in his last 16 events and very encouraging especially considering the strength of this field.
Wade Ormsby was the only other Australasian to make the cut, eventually finishing in 63rd place.
The European Tour will now take a break of over a month until the Qatar Masters in early March although those eligible will play the WGC event in Florida beginning on February 25th.
Queenslander Chris Wood’s Ranking Rise With Vic PGA Win
30-year-old Queenslander, Christopher Wood, today won his first PGA Tour of Australasia title with a one-shot victory at the Victorian PGA Championship at Moonah Links on the Mornington Peninsula.
Wood defeated Gold Coast based West Australian Michael Sim and New Zealander James Anstiss by one shot to claim the $A20,600 first prize and rise to his highest ever position in the world ranking.
Despite the lack of world ranking strength in the field, Wood will climb inside the top 600 in the world after starting the week just inside the top 1400.
Wood’s previous highest ranking was in 2016 when 919th after finishing 3rd at the QLD PGA Championship.
Wood’s previous best finishes on the PGA Tour of Australasia were when finishing in 3rd place in the South Pacific Open and the Queensland PGA Championship several years ago but today he sealed his breakthrough with a final round of 67 over the demanding ‘Open’ layout at Moonah Links.
In more recent years Woods has competed on the PGA Tour China but, like so many others, has been forced to wait out 2020, working on his game with Gold Coast coach, Richard Woodhouse.
Anstiss had led through 54 holes after his brilliant third round of 63 but was unable to hold off the powerful finish of Wood who had started three off the pace.
Sim, a former world number one amateur and multiple winner on the then Nationwide Tour in 2009 before joining the PGA Tour, continued his return to tournament golf with another impressive display.
Now with PGA teaching credentials to his name, Sim recorded a final round of 69 to finish just one back. Both he and Anstiss earn A$ 11,300 for their efforts.
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Steve Stricker Chasing Significant Milestone in Phoenix
Stricker and his wife Nicki today – photo Abbie Parr Getty Images
The outcome might yet be 36 holes away, but 53-year-old Steve Stricker has opened up the possibility of becoming the oldest player to win a PGA Tour event.
Stricker is just one shot behind Xander Schaufelle at the Waste Management Phoenix Open at the halfway mark after rounds of 65 and 66 at the TPC Scottsdale outside of Phoenix and if he can find a way to win the event he will surpass Sam Snead as the oldest golfer to win on the PGA Tour.
Snead was 52 years and 10 months when he won the last of his eight Greater Greensboro Opens in 1965 but Stricker, who won the last of his 12 PGA Tour titles to date in 2012, has at least created an opportunity to create a milestone.
Surprisingly, Stricker has played this event on 18 previous occasions and recorded only one top ten in that time so the performance to date this week of the now PGA Tour Champions eligible golfer is a turnaround on previous efforts at the TPC Scottsdale.
“It would mean a lot,” said Stricker when asked what winning would mean. “I mean, I know it’s a long shot. I’ve got to play my very best, just like anybody else does out here. But you know, I’ve been there.
“I’ve won a few times out on this TOUR and I know what it takes, although it’s been a while. It would be fun to see how I handle it if I do get that opportunity.
“I’ve got to clean up a couple little shots that I messed up coming in, but I feel pretty good about my game and where it’s going. The putter has felt great. Hit a lot of putts on my line today, and it was really kind of a stressless round until the last couple holes.”
Stricker bogeyed his final hole which would ultimately cost him a share of the lead but he is clearly well placed heading into the weekend.
Schauffele has been in tremendous form of late with five top 5 finishes in his last 7 starts.
I’m just trying to kind of stay calm, I guess,” said the leader. “Like I said, I want to win really bad. I think everyone wants to win really bad. People talk to me about it now more than before.
“We kind of just realized where I was getting to I think in terms of me just becoming impatient. I feel like I had a sense of urgency when I really didn’t need to. I would look back at the week and I was like, Man, why did I kind of jump the gun there? All I had to do was play decent and I would’ve been right there.
“I think it’s just a result of pushing and pushing and pushing and having decent results, but not what we really want. I’ve played well in a calm sort of state of mind, and that’s when I’ve done my best.
“So it’s okay to be aware of these things. It’s okay to be scared of bad shots and the unknown, but I think just sort of an overall calmness. I feel like whenever I’m in a content place off the course and Austin (caddie) and are jamming well on the course together, it’s sort of an easy place for me to play well.”
Stricker shares second with Keegan Bradley just one behind Schauffele, the leader playing his final seven holes in six under for a round 64 to snatch the lead late in the day.
Matt Jones was one of only two Australians in the field and has kept himself within touch of the lead with rounds of 68 and 69 to be seven shots from the leader.
Jason Day missed the cut by two shots.
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Ryan Fox Leads Weather Delayed Saudi International
Ryan Fox – photo credit Getty Images
New Zealand’s Ryan Fox has a share of the lead at the Saudi International at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City in Saudi Arabia but he will have to wait until Saturday morning (Saudi time) to determine if he retains that position.
Several players have yet to finish their second rounds after weather delayed the completion of play on day two, one of those players Fox’s co-leader, Stephen Gallacher, who has six holes to play when he returns to the golf course.
Also looming as a major threat to his lead is world number one, Dustin Johnson, who is just two off the lead with four holes to play.
34 year old Fox, who has missed four of his last six cuts in an understandably limited schedule of late, was delighted with his form especially given the quality of the field this week.
“I’m very happy,” said Fox. “It’s been a really solid couple days of ball-striking, and saw a few putts go in both days, which was nice. And, I mean, to be sitting near the top of this leaderboard is always a good thing. It’s a pretty strong field this week.
“I don’t know how many of the top 50 in the world are here this week, but it’s a lot. And there’s a reason they’re there. They’re world-class players.”
Fox is currently ranked 208th in the world ranking but has been as low as 66 after his win in Perth in February 2019.
“And I certainly hope to be there one day,” he added. And if I can play well this week, then it’s a step forward in that direction. If not, it’s just good experience and a nice finish to my desert swing because I don’t really know when I’m going to come back out here again.”
Fox was referring to the ongoing travel issues caused by COVID and even this week he is concerned about making his flight back to New Zealand on Sunday night.
“As long as I can make my flight on Sunday to make sure I get back into New Zealand. But, yeah, like this is what you play golf for, to be in contention. And it’s been a while since I’ve been in this position. And I’ll just go out and enjoy it on the weekend and see if I can keep playing how I’m playing. I know if I do, I’ve got a good chance on Sunday.”
Fox’s only win on the European Tour came in Perth two years ago but there have also been two runner-up finishes so he has proven himself capable of handling the heat of the battle and this weekend against so many of the game’s best players will provide an interesting test for him.
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Different Look WM Phoenix Open But Plenty Of Interest
Jon Rahm – Photo Donald Miralle – Getty Images
This week the PGA Tour heads east to Scottsdale in the outer suburbs of Phoenix for the highly popular Waste Management Phoenix Open at the TPC Scottsdale and after several Australians have been part of recent events on the 2021 PGA Tour only two will tee it up this week.
Jason Day and Matt Jones will take on a field including leading players John Rahm, Rory McIlory, Xander Schauffele and Justin Thomas and so they face a big task if they are to become the first Australian to win the event since Aaron Baddeley in 2007 and just the second overall.
The event is typically the most attended on the PGA Tour in normal times and while the 100,000 daily figures are the norm but no longer possible given COVID restrictions, a concession has been made for the public this week with 5000 per day able to enter the golf course.
Day will play the event for just the 4th occasion and with a best of 20th previously it is a venue that has not seen him near his best. In his only start this year, Day missed the cut at last week’s Farmers Insurance Open so in terms of his record in the event and his current form there is not a lot to get excited about for Day.
Jones will tee it up for the 10th occasion and with a best of 12th in 2014 and no other top 30 finishes in the remainder it appears his chances of faring a lot better are slim.
Jones is, though, playing solidly if unspectacularly of late, an 11th place finish at the Sony Open an indication of his game being in at least reasonable shape.
Jon Rahm will likely start as the favourite as his nearest opponent in the world rankings and playing this week, Rory McIlroy will play the event for the first occasion. Rahm has been 1st or 2nd in the world ranking for nearly 12 months now and has finished a very respectable 7th in each of his last three starts on the PGA Tour including at the Masters.
Three top tens in five starts in this event in his hometown aid his cause and expect to see him very much in the thick of things on Sunday.
“It’s a home event,” said Rahm when asked why he likes the tournament so much. “Get to sleep in my own bed, so it’s nice. The traveling is not too much, especially coming from San Diego. A lot of good memories.
“Obviously my first cut made on the PGA TOUR was here. Had a great finish as an amateur, and the whole Sun Devil vibe and just the familiarity with everything, I love the event, love the fans.
“The game is good. One of those sevenths was with different clubs, so put a little asterisk there. And there’s a big difference between the one at Kapalua and the one at Torrey Pines. I had a legit chance of winning at Torrey Pines. Started good on Sunday and just the putter got cold. Didn’t make much on the back nine.
“But the game is there. I feel like I’m getting used to the clubs, getting used to the ball. Still testing a lot of things to make sure they’re set perfectly. You know, when you change clubs, manufacturers, like that, you’ve got to get used to the tendencies of each one to find the perfect one.”
Despite not having played the event previously McIlroy is ticking over nicely this year and given his class he is sure to adapt quickly to the layout and the lack of crowds this year rather than the raucous lot that normally frequent the event might help him in that regard.
“It’s good to be in Phoenix finally,” said McIlroy. “First time here, and there is always — whether it’s been I’ve been playing in the desert in the Middle East and haven’t been able to make it over here, schedule just hasn’t quite fit. I was over here anyway; played Torrey Pines.
“You know, I’ve always been told that this course in Scottsdale would be a good fit for my game, so thought I would try it out this year. Yeah, excited to be here. From what I’ve seen of the golf course, I like it. I like the fit of it.
“Looking forward to getting out there, and, yeah, playing it this week. Going to be good fun.”
Hideki Matsuyama has an enviable record at the Waste Management Phoenix Open having won twice, finished runner-up once and 4th once in seven starts.
Matsuyama is not far off his best once again after just an average year in 2020 and might bounce back on a golf course he would not doubt like to take home with him.
I keep mentioning Korea’s Sungjae Kim and so I will once again. He has played here twice with seven of his eight rounds in the 60’s and a best of 7th on debut in 2019. Im keeps knocking on the door and at some stage soon he will add to his one PGA Tour victory to date.
It will be a different look for the Waste Management Phoenix Open this year but it offers a lot of interest all the same.
Patrick Reed Deflects Controversy To Win 9th PGA Tour Title
Reed with his trophy – photo Katelyn Mulcahy Getty Images
Patrick Reed has come under the greatest of golf course scrutiny this weekend at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines but in an amazing display of deflecting the criticism he copped as a result of a ruling incident during Saturday’s third round, he has won his 9th PGA Tour title.
Whatever the golfing world thinks of Patrick Reed, and there are many who are questioning his integrity, the one thing that can’t be questioned is his amazing capacity to ignore the many who have attacked him and focus on the job at hand.
Reed’s seemingly dubious action from what he perceived as an embedded lie at the 10th hole during yesterday’s play was brought under severe question on social media and elsewhere but his actions were defended by the PGA Tour’s rules officials and armed with that knowledge he put the controversy aside and set out today with a share of the lead.
Just as he had in Melbourne during the 2019 Presidents Cup when local golf fans and others paid out on his ‘bunkergate’ incident a few weeks earlier, Reed used the criticism then as motivation and played a key role in the comeback of Tiger Woods’ team to win the event on Sunday.
Today, displaying similar resilience, he began the day tied in the lead with Carlos Ortiz but when he holed a 45-foot eagle putt at the 6th and then added another lengthy putt for birdie at the 7th he established a lead that grew over the closing nine despite playing those holes in just one under.
It was an impressive display of golfing skill and dogged determination in so many respects, under the greatest of scrutiny and on one of the PGA Tour’s toughest tests to not only hold on to the lead but to extend it and win by five.
As many of his nearest chasers fell victim to the demands of Torrey Pines closing stretches, Reed played the homeward nine in 1 under and sealed the victory with a ten-foot birdie putt at the last.
He won by five over Tony Finau, Henrik Norlander, Ryan Palmer, Xander Schauffele and Viktor Hovalnd
His media conference was always going to be another test for him and like his display on the golf course he was ready for it.
“Actually, when I’m in tournament weeks I don’t ever look at anything,” Reed told the media conference after his round. “I can get in my own kind of world and that’s stuff that my coaches and team work on, I can kind of go out there and just kind of improve each and every day and work on what we’re supposed to do.
“I think that was the biggest thing is I was allowed to kind of put it behind me when the head rules official comes up and says you did everything you were supposed to do. When you do everything you’re supposed to do, at the end of the day that’s all you can control.
“Going into today, I felt good, I felt confident and really went to the golf course, plugged in my headphones and just kind of got in my world with my coach and got to that first tee.”
Reed has been working on his game and swing with David leadbetter and was asked how today shaped up given the work he has been doing.
“I think that was the biggest thing is today was — I had more nerves today than I did during the final round at Augusta because I was in a different spot; still working on the swing, still not fully where we want it to be.
“But the hard work that my team is going through and working with me on trying to dial it in, get it where it is right now is amazing.
“The good thing is, Led’s always told me, he’s like, hey, you’re working towards something, there’s no reason why you can’t go ahead and win. Because of that I had that kind of attitude going into today that, hey, even though the swing’s not 100 percent, you know how to get it around this golf course, you can go out and shoot a number and put up a fight.”
Adam Scott was unable to take advantage of his 3rd place position through 54 holes and eventually finished tied for 10th after a final round 73. Two late birdies saw a late recovery from an overall disappointing day for Scott.
Defending champion, Marc Leishman, was the next best of the Australians, his final round of 70 improving him to a share of 18th.
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Kennedy Holds off Smylie To Win Inaugural Players Series Event
Photo courtesy of PGA of Australia
46-year-old Gold Coast golfer, Brad Kennedy, has played just two events since his second New Zealand Open victory 11 months ago but he gave a further display of his quality game and mindset when one of those events resulted in victory in the inaugural Player Series Victoria at the Rosebud Country Club on the Mornington Peninsula today.
Kennedy held off his fellow Gold Coaster and a young man 28 years his junior, Elvis Smylie, to win by one after Smylie had produced remarkable weekend scores of 63 and 63 including birdies at his final three holes to catch the leader at the 18th before Kennedy, playing in the group behind, birdied the last to take the title.
Kennedy’s only other event since his win at the Millbrook Resort near Queenstown last March was when taking up an invitation to play the ZOZO Championship on the PGA Tour where he finished a very credible 41st.
For Kennedy, a regular on the Japan Tour in non-Covid days, it was his 6th PGA Tour of Australasia victory and his 14th as a professional and further confirmed him as one of the quiet achievers in Australian golf.
Kennedy works closely with performance coach, David Alred, who recently also started working with last week’s runner-up in Abu Dhabi, Jason Scrivener of Perth. Alred is perhaps best known for his role in taking the likes of Luke Donald and Francesco Molinari to the elite of world golf but he is working and achieving success with several Australian players.
Kennedy had been plagued by a hip injury for much of the final round but managed to play through the pain as he adjusted accordingly.
The highlights of his round were a pitch in for eagle at the 2nd hole and an eagle at the par 5 16th which came on top of an albatross during round three.
Elvis Smylie – photo PGA of Australia
Smylie, the 2019 and still current Australian Junior Champion, began the final round six shots behind Kennedy but an opening nine of 30 including a run of five consecutive birdies in the middle of his round had him knocking on the door.
LPGA Tour player, Su Oh, finished 3rd, two shots behind Smylie and tied with NSW rookie Nathan Barbieri in an event where Men, Ladies and Juniors played against and with each other.
Oh, and the other ladies in the field played from the ladies’ tees but her effort to record two rounds of 65 during the 72 holes augurs well for a return to the LPGA Tour next month.
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Scott Survives Roller-Coaster And Remains In Touch
Scott chasing a 15th PGA Tour title – file photo
It was a day of frustration for Adam Scott during round three of the Farmers Insurance Open but, as the dust settled, the 40-year-old Australian was just two from the lead and very much in contention for a 15th PGA Tour title.
To put it mildly, Scott’s round over the demanding South Course was a roller-coaster of the highest order. Five birdies, five bogeys a double bogey and an eagle added up to a round of 72 but although he relinquished the mid-round lead he established when converting a stunning approach from 290 yards at the par 5 9th for eagle, he remains within striking distance of the leaders, Carlos Ortiz and Patrick Reed.
Scott began with a bogey followed by two birdies but at the 4th hole he pulled his tee shot into the native area to the left of the fairway and was unable to find the green with his third. He then failed to get up and down resulting in a double bogey but two birdies and the eagle by the 9th had him in the outright lead.
He remained in the lead until a run of three bogeys in his final four holes and strong finishes from Reed and Ortiz, who birdied four of his last six holes, saw him walk from the 18th two off the lead.
Despite his frustrations Scott knows he is in with a chance in tomorrow’s final round.
“Yeah. I mean, I had 72, it felt like 80 at one point and it felt like it was going to be 67 at one point,” said Scott. “It’s a hard golf course and I got a little out of sorts coming in there, which is disappointing, but I’m a couple back and got a chance tomorrow.
“If I can just kind of find about 16 really good holes and limit the damage out here, I think I’ve got a good shot at it. It can turn around quick, there’s opportunities if you hit good shots and you get penalized if you hit bad ones. So I’ve got to find a bag full of good ones tomorrow. I’m looking forward to having a crack at it.
“If you’re not on top of your game on these tough courses, you know it’s a pretty demanding golf course in that wind today, a lot of holes into the wind on the back nine. You miss the fairway, it’s hard to hit a green you’re so far back.
“So really it was a combination of those two things coming in, leaving yourself work around the greens. It was tough putting the last nine holes today. You didn’t want to leave yourself anything and I didn’t hit any greens on the back nine, so it was hard work for me.”
The problem for Scott might not just be getting past those ahead of him on the leaderboard but keeping an eye on all 16 players within four shots of the 54-hole lead and in particular the man he shares 3rd place with Jon Rahm who has a win and a runner-up finish here in just four starts.
Tomorrow is shaping as a real shootout and Scott is very much one of the key protagonists.
Defending champion, Marc Leishman, is one shot behind Davis and tied for 27th, Cameron Davis improved 9 places with his round of 70 to be tied for 20th and six shots from the lead. It might be that he is not yet out of it as if a player back as far as 4 under (the score he is on) can find a way to record a round in the mid 60’s then they remain outside chances of winning.
Given only four rounds in the 60’s were recorded on day three however suggests that might be considerably easier said than done.
Rhein Gibson has been unable to retain his opening round brilliance and finds himself in 39th place, Cameron Percy is 45th, Matt Jones and Danny Lee are 55th and Tim Wilkinson 78th.
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Adam Scott in action today – Getty Images Donald Miralle
Adam Scott One Off The lead At Torrey Pines
Adam Scott in action today – photo Getty Images Donald Miralle – click photo
Despite his lengthy PGA Tour career, Adam Scott is playing the Farmers Insurance Open for just the second occasion, but it is clear he has an affinity with the Torrey Pines venue.
Scott played the venue during the World Junior event at Torrey Pines back in the mid 1990’s and other than that has played the 2008 US Open and this event in 2019 so he is nicely placed to add to his growing familiarity with the La Jolla near San Diego over the next 36 holes at the venue for this year’s US Open.
In his first start in the event in 2019, he finished runner-up to Justin Rose and, today, he finds himself just one off the lead through 36 holes and appearing as if his game is in the short of shape it needs to be to challenge for a 15th PGA Tour title.
Scott today played the more difficult of the two layouts used early in this event, the South Course, and was able to put together a round of 3 under 69 which included five birdies and an eagle to go with four bogeys and he trails only Viktor Hovland as the tournament enters the weekend.
Scott shares second place with Jon Rahm, Tony Finau, Lanto Griffin, Ryan Palmer and Patrick Reed
The highlight of the day for Scott came at his 15th hole when his approach from just under 200 yards finished 18 feet behind the hole and was converted for the eagle to take the lead at that point.
Unfortunately, two bogeys would follow but he would birdie his final hole to take a share of the lead before a weather break impacted those still on the course.
“Things are not all still as normal and I’m probably slightly under-prepared for where I want to be, but I’m working on that,” said Scott referring to where he is at with his game and preparation at present.
“Hopefully I can get to spend enough time practicing and playing and seeing the coach and doing the training and stuff, but it’s a little tricky at the moment to get it all done. But I’m trying not to force it. I feel like things are in a good spot.
“Obviously I’m playing okay. I play fairly solid every week I play, it’s just those small margins I think that have been missing and they take some consistency to accumulate and push you up to that top level.
“I really like where my game is heading, and I have in Hawaii as well. I just feel like getting it in the clubhouse has been the hardest thing. The swing, although there’s been lots of good ones, there’s just a couple loose ones coming in. Almost every round I’ve played this year it’s been like that. I think I’m nearly getting there. I’d like to finish it off nicely on the weekend. If I do that, I think I’ll be in with a shot.”
Of the other Australians and New Zealanders, Marc Leishman recovered from a triple bogey in his opening round to be at 3 under and tied for 29th along with Cameron Davis and Danny Lee, Rhein Gibson is 40th, while Tim Wilkinson, Cameron Percy and Matt Jones are 54th and will play the weekend.