LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It’s only fitting that Valhalla Golf Club is just a 20-minute drive from Churchill Downs, where the Kentucky Derby was held a few weeks ago.
Sunday’s final round of the PGA Championship will resemble the finest horse race, with some of the sport’s thoroughbreds taking to the starting gate for a serious chance of winning.
Xander Schauffele is in the lead after three rounds, tied for the lead with Collin Morikawa at 15 under.
Schauffele shot a 3-under 68 and Morikawa shot a 67 in Saturday’s third round.
They shot a 67, one stroke ahead of Sahit Segala, who is at 14 under, and two strokes ahead of Shane Lowry (62), Viktor Hovland (66) and Bryson DeChambeau (67). I’m wearing it.
Justin Rose (64th place Saturday) and Robert McIntyre (66th place) are three shots behind the lead at 12 under.
Gentlemen, start your engines.
Sorry, wrong sport.
Either way, barns are almost guaranteed to burn here in horse country on Sunday.
“The blood is flowing,” Schauffele said, adding that he was sure the players would come after him, just as they did Saturday.
Schauffele hasn’t won since 2022 and despite playing well in majors throughout his career, he’s aiming for his first major championship, as if he’s telling himself not to strain under the weight of gravity. As in, Sunday was called “It’s Sunday again.” About now.
Schauffele looked like he was going to win the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow from start to finish, but he was dethroned by Rory McIlroy’s incredible play in the final round.
Asked on Sunday if he wanted to be the chaser or the chased player, Schauffele said: Against these players, you want to take as many shots as possible, no matter how nervous you are. ”
On Saturday’s 15th hole, Schauffele missed a few valuable shots with a damaging double-bogey, and Morikawa birdied the hole for a three-shot swing, at which point he was in the lead at 14 under.
Morikawa won the 2020 PGA and 2021 British Open and is aiming for his third career major victory. But like Schauffele, he will walk to the first tee with demons he must put to rest.
Morikawa was vying for a chance to win last month’s Masters, when he shot a 74 with surprising double bogeys on Nos. 9 and 11 in the final round.
He later admitted that he got “greedy” aiming for the green on the 11th, and instead of playing conservatively, let the ball drift into Ray’s Creek.
“I’m going to use not just those two things, but the kind of mental state I’ve been in.” [wins in majors], but I played well in other tournaments,” Morikawa said. “I’m going to give it my all tomorrow and see what happens.”
Morikawa sounded a lot like Schauffele when talking about his plans for Sunday.
“I just have to focus on myself,” he said. “Look, I’ve played against all these players. It’s not like these guys are new. They all have admiration within themselves, and really anyone can go down. Everything I’ve been through over the past few years has prepared me for these moments. I felt ready a month ago. I did. I hope it doesn’t happen tomorrow.”
Hovland, who was dominated by Koepka at Oak Hill last year, called it “exciting” to get another chance at the Wanamaker Trophy a year later.
“Obviously this is one of the big four that we’re trying to win,” said Hovland, who is seeking his first major championship. “It’s a great history and a great trophy. Everything about it is super special. It’s a great field. You just want to be a part of putting your name on that trophy.”
The 15th hole was a pivotal hole late Saturday. Segala chipped in on the 15th for birdie, Schauffele doubled and Morikawa birdied.
Segala said he was going into Sunday with “no expectations.”
“Try to have fun,” he said. “You never know how many chances you’ll get. There are a lot of absolute strongest players in the world. [with] There are major championships in front of me and behind me. It’s going to be nerve-wracking, and it’s great to embrace that nerve, because it’s a feeling you don’t often experience. ”
DeChambeau, who chipped in for eagle on the 18th hole to put an exclamation point on his round, is also enjoying the moment.
With this chip-in, he went from being at the top of the race at 11 under par to 13 under par and reaching that point.
DeChambeau called the shot “exhilarating.” “I haven’t felt like that in a long time. The only other time I felt like that was when I shot a 58 at the Greenbrier last year. It was pretty exciting there. I was pretty excited. I’ve got a good chance.”
There will be opportunities for many athletes, making it a race not to be missed.
