(AP)
Mito Pereira will take a three-shot lead on the final day of the PGA Championship in Southern Hills after overcoming an unstable turn to take the lead on Saturday. Pereira made the last one to score a 69 and stays ahead of the leader of the night Will Zalatoris and Matthew Fitzpatrick, who came into play after throwing an excellent 67.
However, Rory McIlroy’s bid to end his severe drought suffered a major setback. After a run of five pairs in a row, McIlroy threw his starting throw into the water to the sixth pair and ran a five double bogey to go back down to two below par. He would be followed by a triple bogey six and although a series of birds helped, McIlroy dropped another shot in the 18th to end the day at overall parity.
Earlier in the day, Tiger Woods recorded his worst score in the PGA Championship, as a successful battle to make the cut came at a high cost to Southern Hills. Woods shot 79, his worst previous PGA score in the U.S. was 77 in the first round in 2011. “I didn’t play well,” Woods said. “I didn’t hit the ball very well and I came out at the start when I needed to. I thought I had hit a good tee in two and ended up in the water, and I never had any momentum on my side. “
After the end of the third round, it was confirmed that Woods had retired 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:
PGA Championship standings
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Putts don’t fall
Matt Fitzpatrick slips a bird effort beyond the right edge of the hole in the seventh and Cameron Young drops a shot in the eighth.
Right next to the green, McIlroy has a long way to go from the left to the right.
Michael Jones22 May 2022 21:22
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Three for Rory
Nine pairs in a row for Rory McIlroy. He just hasn’t been able to turn in the toughest of the last nine to pick up shots, and with three holes to go, he’s probably looking at -5 as the best of the best.
On the 17th he gets it in two and a good starting shot on the 18th would give him a chance.
Michael Jones22 May 2022 21:19
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The wheels come off
Will Zalatoris is imploding. Take an iron on the eighth par-3 and stick it well on the green. He’s a little lucky to get the ball sitting rough, leaving a good line to the flag and the potential of a pair up and down.
(Getty Images)
Michael Jones22 May 2022 21:16
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Problems at seven
The euphoria of making only one bogey in six has moved away from Will Zalatoris, who picks up consecutive bogeys with a five in the seventh.
Cameron Young also struggled to get close with his three approach shots, but is saved with the putter and comes out with a pair.
Michael Jones22 May 2022 21:12
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Fitzpatrick limits the damage
After finding the water in the sixth, Matt Fitzpatrick makes a tricky putt for a bogey four of the three. Like Will Zalatoris just before, it will look like a saved shot.
Still, he moves four ahead with Mito Pereira (-9) two putts from the center of the green for a pair.
Michael Jones22 May 2022 21:08
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Pereira finds the green
The latter had to wait a long time while the referees faced the rebellious stroke of Will Zalatoris. The wait does not seem to bother Mito Pereira who sends a plate safely in the middle of the green.
Fitzpatrick decides to go for a five iron and will have to smoke it properly. He also tries to fetch the flag instead of rescuing himself from the right and gets it wrong.
Splashed! He has problems with water and English.
Michael Jones22 May 2022 21:02
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Zalatoris retires
Will Zalatoris (-7) drops a shot at par-3 six but will feel like a bird. He had real trouble getting off the tee and had to take a penalty kick before jumping out of the way of the cart.
He still had work to do with a six-foot bogey and what seemed safe as a double bogey at best makes Zalatoris only drop one. Great recovery play.
Michael Jones22 May 2022 20:58
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A bogey for Ancer
Abraham Ancer picks up another bogey for his round and returns to (-3) alongside Rory McIlroy, who misses another 14th birdie chance.
Michael Jones22 May 2022 20:54
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Pereira in front
Mito Pereira (-9) turns his birdie putt into the fifth to get back in front. This advantage seems to be extended, as Will Zalatoris is receiving a penalty kick in the sixth.
Matt Fitzpatrick has to settle for a pair.
Michael Jones May 22, 2022 8:50 p.m.
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Opportunity for Herbert
Lucas Herbert (-3) has a great chance to score but somehow manages to miss the target!
Rory McIlroy struggled to get out of the tee on the 13th, but recovered well to mount a birdie putt that then slid down the right side of the hole.
The putts don’t fall on Rory.
Michael Jones22 May 2022 20:46