One player descended. Another ascended. One of the second-round leaders remained in the lead after the third. He’s been at or near the top of the leaderboard for the past three years, too. Money comes and goes in Vegas. But he’s just money. Here are three things you need to know after the third round of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at TPC Summerlin.
Patrick Cantlay shares the lead
Patrick Cantlay was at the top of the leaderboard to start the day. He was at the top of the leaderboard to end the day. Much like he was in 2017, when he won; in 2018, when he finished second; and in 2019, when he finished second again.
Cantlay shot a bogey-free, 6-under 66 for a 20-under total and a share of a two-stroke lead with Martin Laird, who, along with Cantlay, was one of five players to lead after the second round. Matthew Wolff, Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman and Austin Cook were tied for third.
“Everything was solid today,” Cantlay said. “Drove the ball really well, wedged it well and actually didn’t have all my putts go in. I hit a lot of good putts that didn’t go in. All in all, it was a real solid day and in a good spot for tomorrow.”
Matthew Wolff rises
Matthew Wolff goes on a record eagle binge – in five holes
Wolff made a big leap.
He played his first eight holes at 1-under. He played the final 10 at 8-under – and nearly 10-under. He started the day tied for 40th. He ended it tied for third.
Wolff birdied the 9th and 10th. He then eagled 11, 13 and 15 to become the fifth player since 1983 to make three eagles on either a front or back nine in a round. He birdied the 16th. He was inches away from birdies on 17 and 18.
“I think this course just you have so many birdie opportunities if you hit the ball in the fairway,” Wolff said. “It’s not long. The pins were in pretty favorable spots. I just told myself to give myself as many looks as I can, and the putts would fall. Even though it seems like some of them didn’t, I hit the ball really well.”
Kevin Na, last year’s champ, and Will Zalatoris were three shots back, and five players were four shots back.
Bryson DeChambeau falls
Bryson DeChambeau made a big fall.
DeChambeau double-bogeyed the 2nd. He played holes 4, 5 and 6 at 4-over. He then played his final 11 holes at 5-under for an even-par 71. Only seven players were worse on Saturday.
He started the day in second and ended it tied for 31st.
“Yeah, it was really weird,” DeChambeau said. “I don’t know. It’s golf, right? I mean, you’re never going to play your best all the time, right? So I just felt like couple things got off a little bit. Didn’t really hit bad shots. Just didn’t go where I wanted to.
“Went into some really bad places unfortunately and didn’t save par from them. Just stuff didn’t go my way today, and it’s OK. Not a big deal.”