NASSAU, Bahamas — Scottie Scheffler made two eagles on Saturday in his spherical of 7-under 65 that gave the No. 1 participant on the earth one other probability to win the Hero World Problem. Tiger Woods will probably be round on the finish, however solely handy out the trophy.
Scheffler was by no means critically out of place till the top of his spherical. He saved par on the sixteenth gap however dropped his lone shot on the 18th at Albany, giving him a three-shot lead over Matt Fitzpatrick, who additionally had a 65.
Scheffler contending at Woods’ match within the Bahamas is nothing new — he has been runner-up to Viktor Hovland every of the final two years. Woods being out of the combo can be common, primarily as a result of he sometimes is recovering from accidents.
That is his fifth time enjoying within the Bahamas, and solely as soon as has he completed inside 10 photographs of the winner. This 12 months figures to be no exception. Woods was over par on the again 9 for the third straight spherical, having to accept a 71 that left him 16 photographs behind Scheffler.
Then once more, this is not simply in regards to the golf. Woods is getting back from one other surgical procedure that saved him out of golf for practically eight months. Sunday can be the primary time he performs a 72-hole match since Riviera in February.
He stated he has skilled no soreness in his ankle, simply different areas of his physique, and people have recovered higher than anticipated after every spherical.
“I nonetheless have sport,” Woods stated. “It is whether or not or not the physique can do it. I am very pleasantly stunned at how I’ve recovered day-after-day. My activations within the health club have been good.”
The golf has been a mix.
Woods opened with two straight bogeys, rallied with 4 birdies on the entrance 9, after which once more did not convert on the par 5s on the again 9. He missed the eleventh inexperienced with a wedge, and he missed a birdie putt inside 3 toes on the fifteenth.
He felt his rating might have been within the excessive 60s, although he was most happy along with his well being.
“To have the ability to knock off a few of the rust as I’ve this week and confirmed myself that I can get better each day, that was sort of an unknown,” he stated. “I’ve walked this far. I’ve executed all my coaching. However add in enjoying and focus and adrenaline and all these different elements that pace up all the pieces, I am very excited how the week’s turned out.”
Scheffler was at 16-under 200. Fitzpatrick, who gained the Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship the week after the Ryder Cup, birdied his final two holes and can play with Scheffler within the last group.
Justin Thomas had a 68 and was 5 photographs behind. Jordan Spieth began the third spherical tied with Scheffler and fell again shortly with a drive into the bushes on the par-5 third that led to a penalty drop and a three-shot swing — Spieth made bogey, Scheffler holed a 15-foot eagle putt.
Spieth shot 71 and was six photographs again.
Scheffler has been the very best ball-striker in golf this 12 months, off the tee and into the greens, a dominant 12 months aside from his placing. He started working with placing coach Phil Kenyon just a few months in the past and is trying sharper. All his scoring putts have been outdoors 12 toes.
“I really feel as if I am far more clear in what I must be engaged on and a number of that has to do with how I am arrange over the ball,” Scheffler stated. “Once I’m arrange in the precise place, then I really feel like my mechanics are actually good. That is what I am targeted on.”
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