The leading score didn’t change much through two rounds of the Valspar Championship, but on Saturday — typically known as the Tour’s “Moving Day” — red numbers started to pile up, as Paul Casey took the solo lead by one shot over Dustin Johnson.
Here’s everything you missed from Round 3 at the Innisbrook Golf Resort’s Copperhead Course.
Defending champ Paul Casey moved into a share of the lead on Friday with second round of 66. On Saturday, he doubled down, firing another solid round of 68 — enough to maintain his place at the top of the leaderboard, even if it is by only one shot. Casey is nine under par overall.
One thing’s for sure: He’s rolling the rock very well.
Walk it in, @Paul_Casey.
He’s leading by 3 @ValsparChamp.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/xkVEaU2CrJ
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 23, 2019
Casey is seeking his third career Tour victory on Sunday. Unfortunately, statistically speaking, the odds are against him just a bit. Over the course of the five 54-hole leads he’s held in his career, he’s only taken home the trophy once: the 2009 Houston Open. We’ll see if that can change tomorrow.
Dustin Johnson made five birdies and a bogey en route to a round of four under par on Saturday — his best score of the week.
To top it off, he stuffed a shot from the fairway bunker on No. 18 and drained the birdie to get himself into the final group with Casey on Sunday. Impressive stuff.
Sensational.
An impressive closing birdie for @DJohnsonPGA.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/60zcHFwJdu
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 23, 2019
The World No. 1 is seeking career win No. 21 tomorrow.
Following Casey and Johnson’s final pairing tomorrow, there are plenty of guys with some serious cred who could contend down the stretch.
Luke Donald, a former champion, had a quiet 70 today, but is still only three shots back. Louis Oosthuizen made seven birdies en route to a 66 and is four shots back, and the ageless Jim Furyk has yet to shoot a round over par this week. He’s also only four shots back.
That’s one way to grab hold of the lead. ?
Louis Oosthuizen with his seventh birdie of the day.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/jLO3Mlrwe6
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 23, 2019
Through three rounds, 66 has been the magic number when it comes to the low round of the day honors. Joel Dahmen and Sepp Straka shared the lead on Thursday after firing opening rounds of 66. Paul Casey matched the number on Friday, and Jason Kokrak shot 66 on Saturday to launch himself into solo third.
With the players so tightly packed on the leaderboard, a well-timed 65 tomorrow could really shake things up. There are currently 13 players within five shots of Casey’s lead. More food for thought: Only three of the last 11 54-hole leaders have managed to convert on Sunday afternoon. In short: There are plenty of guys who have a chance tomorrow.
