(AP)
Mito Pereira will take a three-shot lead into the final day of the PGA Championship at Southern Hills after overcoming a shaky turn to surge out in front on Saturday. Pereira birdied the last to card a 69 and remain ahead of overnight leader Will Zalatoris and Matthew Fitzpatrick, who put himself into contention after shooting an excellent 67.
Rory McIlroy’s bid to end his major drought suffered a significant early blow, however. After a run of five straight pars, McIlroy pulled his tee shot to the par-three sixth into the water and ran up a double-bogey five to drop back to two under par. It would be followed by a triple-bogey six and although a run of birdies helped, McIlroy then dropped a further shot at the 18th to finish the day at level par overall.
Earlier in the day, Tiger Woods recorded his worst ever score in the PGA Championship as a successful battle to make the cut took a heavy toll at Southern Hills. Woods shot 79, his previous worst score in the US PGA being a 77 in the first round in 2011. “I just didn’t play well,” Woods said. “I didn’t hit the ball very well and got off to not the start I needed to get off to. I thought I hit a good tee shot down two and ended up in the water, and just never really got any kind of momentum on my side.”
It was confirmed after the conclusion of the third day that Woods had withdrawn from the tournament and the 46-year-old will not play in the fourth round.
Follow all the action on what promises to be an intriguing final day, below:
The wheels are coming off
Will Zalatoris is imploding. He takes an iron on the par-3 eighth and hooks it well over the green. He’s a little lucky in that the ball sits up in the rough, leaving a good line towards the flag and the potential for an up-and-down par.
(Getty Images)
Michael Jones22 May 2022 21:16
Trouble on seven
The euphoria of only making a bogey on six has been shot away from Will Zalatoris who picks up consectutive bogeys with a five on the seventh.
Cameron Young struggled to get close as well with his three approach shots but he saves himself with the putter and comes away with a par.
Michael Jones22 May 2022 21:12
Fitzpatrick limits the damage
After finding the water on the sixth, Matt Fitzpatrick slots a tricky putt in for a bogey four on the three. Like Will Zalatoris just before, that will feel like a shot saved.
He moves four off the lead though as Mito Pereira (-9) two putts from the middle of the green for a par.
Michael Jones22 May 2022 21:08
Pereira finds the green
The last pairing had to wait a long time whilst the officials dealt with Will Zalatoris’ wayward stroke. The wait doesn’t seem to bother Mito Pereira who sends an iron safely onto the middle of the green.
Fitzpatrick decides to go for a five iron and will need to properly smoke this one. He also attempts to go for the flag instead of bailing out to the right and gets it all wrong.
Splash! Into the water and the Englishman is in trouble.
Michael Jones22 May 2022 21:02
Zalatoris drops back
Will Zalatoris (-7) drops a shot on the par-3 six but it’ll feel like a birdie. He was in real trouble off the tee and had to take a penalty shot before chipping on from the cart path.
He still had work to do with a six-footer for bogey and what looked for sure like a double bogey at best sees Zalatoris only drop one. Great recovery play.
Michael Jones22 May 2022 20:58
A bogey for Ancer
Abraham Ancer collects another bogey for his round and drops back to (-3) alongside Rory McIlroy who misses another birdie chance of the 14th.
Michael Jones22 May 2022 20:54
Pereira back in front
Mito Pereira (-9) converts his birdie putt on the fifth to move back out in front. That lead looks set to be extended as Will Zalatoris is taking a penalty drop over on the sixth.
Matt Fitzpatrick has to settle for a par.
Michael Jones22 May 2022 20:50
Chance for Herbert
Lucas Herbert (-3) has the opportunity to make a move on the ninth but his birdie effort lips out the side of the cup and he has to settle for par.
Rory McIlroy was in trouble off the tee on 13 but recovered well to set up a birdie putt that he then slid past the right side of the hole.
The putts aren’t falling for Rory.
Michael Jones22 May 2022 20:46
Zalatoris in trouble
Will Zalatoris tees off on the sixth and seems to select a club too much as he belts it through the back of the green, over the road and into the forestry. That might even be out of bounds.
Cameron Young also goes over the back but he keeps his ball in play.
Michael Jones22 May 2022 20:44
Eagle putt for Zalatoris
Two great shots on the par-5 fifth from Will Zalatoris sets him up with a putt for eagle from the front part of the green. He finds the correct line but it just doesn’t have the legs.
On the same hole Cameron Young slides his eagle putt past the left side of the hole but taps in for birdie to move to (-6).
Zalatoris follows him into the cup for a share of the lead (-8).
Michael Jones22 May 2022 20:39
