There’s only one round left at the 2021 PGA Championship, and with Saturday’s third round so full of drama and intrigue, what will Sunday have in store at Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course? We can’t wait to find out. Here are five things you need to know ahead of the final round.
1. Phil is still in control
At seven under for the tournament, 50-year-old Phil Mickelson leads the field by one shot. Regardless of what happens on Sunday, it’s been an incredible performance for the 44-time PGA Tour winner. Mickelson played beautifully on Saturday, carding five birdies on his opening 11 holes before stumbling with a bogey and double-bogey on Nos. 12 and 13.
“I felt I had a very clear picture on every shot, and I’ve been swinging the club well, and so I was executing,” Mickelson said after his round. “I just need to keep that picture a few more times. So even though it slipped a little bit today and I didn’t stay as focused and as sharp on a few swings, it’s significantly better than it’s been for a long time. So I’m making a lot of progress, and I’ll continue to work on that and hopefully I’ll be able to eliminate a couple of those loose swings tomorrow.”
A win on Sunday would mark the sixth major championship of Mickelson’s career, tying him on the all-time list with Lee Trevino and Nick Faldo.
2. Brooks is lurking
Despite battling a lingering knee injury of late, Brooks Koepka is once again on the cusp of winning a major championship. He’s one shot behind Phil Mickelson, and vying for his fifth career major title, and third PGA Championship.
Koepka avoided big numbers during Saturday’s round, but made three bogeys en route to a two-under 70. While he wasn’t thrilled with his performance, he acknowledged that he’s exactly where he wanted to be when the week began.
“I’ve got a chance to win,” he said. “So that’s all I wanted to do today is not give back any shots and be there tomorrow with a chance, and I’ve got that.”
3. Other players in contention
There are seven other players within five shots of Mickelson’s lead, including reigning U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, who is two under after posting a third round of one-under 71. Another looming threat is 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, who is only two shots back at five under.
Two-time Tour winner Kevin Streelman is solo fourth at four under, while South Africans Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Branden Grace are four shots back at three under.
Another former U.S. Open champ, Gary Woodland, is tied with Joaquin Niemann and DeChambeau in seventh place at two under.
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4. Sunday’s weather forecast
After three nearly perfect days, more glorious weather is expected in Kiawah Island on Sunday.
Abundant sunshine and warm temperatures in the low 80s will greet players with afternoon tee times, and the wind should remain moderate, blowing around 12 mph.
5. The best Sunday storyline is …
There’s no question that Phil Mickelson getting the job done on Sunday and becoming the oldest major winner in history will likely be the story of the year, if not the decade. But Brooks Koepka, coming from somewhat under the radar to win his fifth major title in less than four years (after missing the cut at the Masters and rehabbing an injured knee) is a solid second.
Other outcomes to ponder: Kevin Streelman wins his very first major championship at age 42; Gary Woodland or Bryson DeChambeau come from behind to claim their second career major championships. The list goes on and on! Regardless of what inspires you to watch, the chance to witness any of the above scenarios is what makes Sunday’s action worth tuning in for.
