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Brendan Steele Shares 54-Hole Lead With Jason Duffner
Westwood Holds out Hope Despite Putting Woes
Donald Squanders Solid PGA Start With Poor Finish
Complete Scores on Saturday After the Third Round
93rd PGA Championship Final-Round Pairings
Brendan Steele Shares 54-Hole Lead With Jason Duffner
ATLANTA, August 13, 2011 (AFP) - Unheralded Americans Brendan Steele and Jason Dufner shared the lead at seven-under par 203 after Saturday's third round of the 93rd PGA Championship.
Steele, a US PGA rookie who won the Texas Open in April, fired a four-under par 66 but a bogey on the 18th hole at Atlanta Athletic Club kept him from carrying sole possession of the lead into the final round.
Steele, 28, hopes to become the first man to win while making his major debut since compatriot Ben Curtis at the 2003 British Open. The last major debutante champion on US soil was Francis Ouimet at the 1913 US Open.
Dufner, 34, has not won a PGA event in six seasons on the tour. He missed the cut in his past four starts.
Keegan Bradley, a 25-year-old American rookie who won the Byron Nelson title last May, was third on 204 with countryman Scott Verplank fourth on 205 and US veteran Steve Stricker another stroke adrift in fifth.
Americans have not won a major in the past six, the longest US win drought in major golf history.
Westwood Holds out Hope Despite Putting Woes
ATLANTA, August 13, 2011 (AFP) - World No. 2 Lee Westwood, briefly among the top contenders at the PGA Championship, stumbled back with a double bogey in Saturday's third round but still had hope of a last-round comeback.
Westwood fired a par-70 at Atlanta Athletic Club to stand on one-under 209 through 54 holes at the year's final major tournament, well off the pace after a day of putter struggles, including a missed two-footer for bogey at the 14th.
"A major championship will be a lot more pressure but I think one-under is by no means out of it," Westwood said.
The 38-year-old Englishman, whose major near misses included a share of third at the 2009 PGA, birdied the par-five fifth and began the back nine with a birdie, both on five-foot putts, but his stumble at the 14th hurt.
"I've had one bad shot all day, off the 14th tee, not that bad a shot really but in the trap I got an awful lie and got a bit unlucky on the second shot and it rolled back 60 yards and ended up making double anyway," Westwood said.
"Just hit it great all day and close and made nothing."
Westwood was especially disheartened because he said his game was not that far off putting him among Sunday's final groups.
"It's just disappointing because I'm playing such good golf, and I have done for the first three days, but nothing has gone in and just under pressure all the time, so keep playing quality golf and hitting quality shots which you need to make your fair share of 15-footers," Westwood said.
"Misread a couple. Mis-struck a few. And when I hit good ones they did completely the opposite of what I expect them to do or somehow manage to miss."
Having tried to adopt a care-free attitude this week after visits with Dave Stockton and Bob Rotella about the mental side of the game, Westwood was at his wits end what to try next to clear the final hurdle between himself and a major triumph.
"I don't know," Westwood said. "Different religion maybe? I have no idea. I have tried everything else it seems. Just need a bit of inspiration from somewhere and a bit of luck."
The course has surrendered rounds of 65 or lower each of the first three days but Westwood knows he needs to make putts to take full advantage of what is on offer on Sunday.
"I would like to think they are going to drop tomorrow," Westwood said. "But they haven't dropped all year, so why should they change tomorrow?"
Donald Squanders Solid PGA Start With Poor Finish
ATLANTA, August 13, 2011 (AFP) - World No. 1 Luke Donald, seeking his first major title, finished three-over on his final three holes after charging to within a stroke of the lead in Saturday's third round of the PGA Championship.
The 33-year-old Englishman fired a two-under 68 to stand on one-under 209 after 54 holes at Atlanta Athletic Club in the year's final major event, but was shattered over what might have been had he stayed among the top contenders.
"Had something really good going there and kind of threw it away," Donald said. "I'm trying to stay positive. I am angry. I might punish myself in the gym."
Donald was five-under par after 15 holes but took a bogey at 16, cleared the water by inches at 17 to escape with a par 3, then finished with a double bogey that ruined his day.
"Obviously the finish leaves a bitter taste in my mouth," Donald said. "I was in a great position at four-under and thought maybe I could even grab an extra birdie, get to five-under. That could be leading by the end of the day.
"So yeah, very disappointing finish, but there was a lot of great golf out there. I played a lot better. A lot more fairways, gave myself some good opportunities. It's just a shame to waste it like I did at the end."
Donald responded to a bogey at the second hole with three birdies in a row, solving the par-4 third, par-3 fourth and par-5 fifth to crack par overall.
The charge gathered steam when Donald finished the front nine with a birdie and added back-to-back birdies at the 13th and 14th, only to fade on the holes that he sees as the ones that will decide a champion on Sunday.
"It does offer some birdie opportunities and you can get it under par, but there are some tough holes you have got to weather and the champion at the end of the week is probably going to have played those tough ones the best.
"Any time you get holes that are this difficult, it's going to make for an exciting finish, exciting in terms of can you hold on," Donald said.
Donald took over the top raking in late May by winning the BMW European PGA Championship in a playoff over England's Lee Westwood, the prior World No. 1.
Donald's other triumphs this year came in the World Golf Championships Match-Play Championship and the Scottish Open.
Complete Scores on Saturday After the Third Round
Complete scores on Saturday after the third round of the 93rd PGA Championship at par-70 Atlanta Athletic Club:
203 - Brendan Steele (USA) 69-68-66, Jason Dufner (USA) 70-65-68
204 - Keegan Bradley (USA) 71-64-69
205 - Scott Verplank (USA) 67-69-69
206 - Steve Stricker (USA) 63-74-69
207 - Anders Hansen (DEN) 68-69-70, D.A. Points (USA) 69-67-71
208 - David Toms (USA) 72-71-65, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 71-71-66, Robert Karlsson (SWE) 70-71-67, Adam Scott (AUS) 69-69-70, John Senden (AUS) 68-68-72
209 - Ben Crane (USA) 71-72-66, Nick Watney (USA) 70-71-68, Luke Donald (ENG) 70-71-68, Spencer Levin (USA) 71-70-68, Brendon de Jonge (ZIM) 68-72-69, Lee Westwood (ENG) 71-68-70, Jim Furyk (USA) 71-65-73
210 - Hunter Mahan (USA) 72-72-66, Francesco Molinari (ITA) 72-71-67, Alexander Noren (SWE) 70-72-68, Matt Kuchar (USA) 71-71-68, Bill Haas (USA) 68-73-69, Phil Mickelson (USA) 71-70-69, Ryan Palmer (USA) 71-70-69, Sergio Garcia (ESP) 72-69-69, Scott Piercy (USA) 71-68-71, Brandt Jobe (USA) 68-69-73
211 - Bill Lunde (USA) 71-71-69, Brian Davis (ENG) 69-73-69, Kevin Na (USA) 72-69-70, Gary Woodland (USA) 70-70-71, Simon Dyson (ENG) 68-72-71, Trevor Immelman (RSA) 69-71-71, Mark Wilson (USA) 69-71-71
212 - K.J. Choi (KOR) 70-73-69, Bubba Watson (USA) 74-68-70, Ian Poulter (ENG) 74-68-70, Johnson Wagner (USA) 71-69-72, Jerry Kelly (USA) 65-73-74, Jhonattan Vegas (VEN) 70-68-74
213 - Chris Kirk (USA) 72-72-69, Bryce Molder (USA) 74-69-70, Matteo Manassero (ITA) 68-74-71, Robert Allenby (AUS) 72-70-71, Harrison Frazar (USA) 72-69-72, Charles Howell (USA) 72-68-73, Yuta Ikeda (JPN) 73-68-72
214 - John Rollins (USA) 72-72-70, Kyung-Tae Kim (KOR) 73-71-70, Mike Small (USA) 73-71-70, Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP) 69-73-72, Johan Edfors (SWE) 71-70-73, Robert Garrigus (USA) 70-70-74
215 - Kevin Streelman (USA) 73-71-71, Ricky Barnes (USA) 69-75-71, Rory Sabbatini (RSA) 73-69-73, Davis Love (USA) 68-71-76
216 - Zach Johnson (USA) 71-72-73, Andres Romero (ARG) 72-70-74, Noh Seung-yul (KOR) 71-70-75, Ross Fisher (ENG) 71-69-76
217 - Rory McIlroy (NIR) 70-73-74, Padraig Harrington (IRL) 73-69-75
218 - Michael Bradley (USA) 70-74-74, Yang Yong-eun (KOR) 71-73-74, Rickie Fowler (USA) 74-69-75, Peter Hanson (SWE) 71-71-76
219 - Pablo Larrazabal (ESP) 70-73-76
220 - Edoardo Molinari (ITA) 75-69-76, Ryan Moore (USA) 75-69-76
221 - Sean O'Hair (USA) 71-73-77, Shaun Micheel (USA) 66-78-77
222 - Paul Casey (ENG) 72-72-78
93rd PGA Championship Final-Round Pairings
ATLANTA, August 14, 2011 (AFP) - Pairings for Sunday's final round of the 93rd PGA Championship (times local, four hours off GMT):
8:10 a.m. (1210 GMT): Paul Casey (ENG)
8:20: Sean O'Hair (USA), Shaun Micheel (USA)
8:30: Edoardo Molinari (ITA), Ryan Moore (USA)
8:40: Peter Hanson (SWE), Pablo Larrazabal (ESP)
8:50: Yang Yong-Eun (KOR), Rickie Fowler (USA)
9:00: Padraig Harrington (IRL), Michael Bradley (USA)
9:10: Ross Fisher (ENG), Rory McIlroy (NIR)
9:20: Andres Romero (ARG), Noh Seung-yul (KOR)
9:30: Davis Love (USA), Zach Johnson (USA)
9:40: Ricky Barnes (USA), Rory Sabbatini (RSA)
9:50: Robert Garrigus (USA), Kevin Streelman (USA)
10:00: Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP), Johan Edfors (SWE)
10:10: Kim Kyung-Tae (KOR), Mike Small (USA)
10:20: Yuta Ikeda (JPN), John Rollins (USA)
10:30: Harrison Frazar (USA), Charles Howell (USA)
10:50: Matteo Manassero (ITA), Robert Allenby (AUS)
11:00: Chris Kirk (USA), Bryce Molder (USA)
11:10: Jerry Kelly (USA), Jhonattan Vegas (VEN)
11:20: Ian Poulter (ENG), Johnson Wagner (USA)
11:30: K.J. Choi (KOR), Bubba Watson (USA)
11:40: Simon Dyson (ENG), Mark Wilson (USA)
11:50: Gary Woodland (USA), Trevor Immelman (RSA)
12:00 p.m.: Brian Davis (ENG), Kevin Na (USA)
12:10: Brandt Jobe (USA), Bill Lunde (USA)
12:20: Sergio Garcia (ESP), Scott Piercy (USA)
12:30: Phil Mickelson (USA), Ryan Palmer (USA)
12:40: Matt Kuchar (USA), Bill Haas (USA)
12:50: Francesco Molinari (ITA), Alexander Noren (SWE)
1:00: Jim Furyk (SWE), Hunter Mahan (USA)
1:10: Brendon de Jonge (ZIM), Lee Westwood (ENG)
1:30: Luke Donald (ENG), Spencer Levin (USA)
1:40: Ben Crane (USA), Nick Watney (USA)
1:50: Adam Scott (AUS), John Senden (AUS)
2:00: Charl Schwartzel (RSA), Robert Karlsson (SWE)
2:10: D.A. Points (USA), David Toms (USA)
2:20: Steve Stricker (USA), Anders Hansen (DEN)
2:30: Keegan Bradley (USA), Scott Verplank (USA)
2:40: Brendan Steele (USA), Jason Dufner (USA)