SILVIS, Unwell. — Davis Thompson made birdie on half of his holes Saturday on a tender and defenseless TPC Deere Run, matching his profession low with a 9-under 62 for a two-shot lead going into the ultimate spherical of the John Deere Traditional.
Thompson made birdie even after his one dangerous swing, escaping from the bushes on the par-5 seventeenth after which hitting wedge from a nasty angle over a knob of tough to eight ft.
He was at 21-under 192, his first time with the 54-hole lead in his second 12 months on the PGA Tour. That does not really feel like a lot of a lead this week.
“The fellows behind me are taking part in very well,” Thompson stated. “I do know it is going to be robust to complete off a golf match, however I’ve finished it earlier than. I simply have to remain present-minded.”
His lone win was on the Korn Ferry Tour two years in the past.
Eric Cole hit 3-wood from 274 yards to only inside 15 ft for eagle on the seventeenth that carried him to a 64 and into the ultimate group. He was two photographs behind. Becoming a member of them might be Aaron Rai of England, within the closing group for the second straight week after a 66.
The ultimate spherical might be in threesomes off each tees for a barely later begin Sunday with hopes of avoiding storms that have already got made the course susceptible to low scoring.
Jordan Spieth performed early and at one level was tied for the lead — the leaders had not even reached the apply vary at that time — and wound up with a 63. By the tip of the day, he made up just one stroke on the lead. Spieth was seven photographs behind in a tie for twelfth.
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“It could take one thing extraordinarily flawless to have an opportunity,” Spieth stated. “However I am going to attempt to do what I did right this moment.”
Hayden Spring lastly shot a spherical within the 60s — he opened with a course record-tying 59 and fell again with a 71 on Friday — and his 66 put him 4 photographs behind at 17-under 196 together with C.T. Pan, who had a 68.
Nonetheless within the combine had been a pair of children – one nonetheless in school, one simply out. Michael Thorbjornsen, who has a card because the No. 1 participant within the PGA Tour College rating after his senior 12 months at Stanford, had a 66. Florida State sophomore Luke Clanton had a 67. They had been amongst these 5 photographs off the lead.
Clanton made the minimize within the U.S. Open, after which tied for tenth final week within the Rocket Mortgage Traditional. He is making an attempt to grow to be the primary novice since 1958 to complete within the high 10 on the PGA Tour in consecutive weeks.
Clanton seems to be so comfy that he even agreed to do a walk-and-talk with the CBS sales space whereas taking part in on the again 9.
“It is loopy, I can not even actually fathom what’s occurring proper now, truthfully,” Clanton stated. “I am nonetheless a 20-year-old child in school simply having enjoyable. Doing that stuff is unreal.”
Thompson bought into the combination rapidly by making a 25-foot birdie putt on the primary gap and getting up-and-down from the bunker for a birdie on the par-5 second. He additionally holed out from a bunker for birdie on the fifth after which bought a break on the sixth when his drive hit a tree and kicked out to the green, establishing wedge to shut vary for birdie.
“I suppose it was simply my day right this moment,” Thompson stated. “Hit a variety of good photographs on the again 9 and completed the spherical off nicely.”
He surged into the lead with three straight birdies on the again 9 — a tee shot to a foot on the par-3 twelfth gap, a 15-foot birdie putt on the thirteenth after which driving right into a bunker on the reachable par-4 14th and blasting out to a foot.
Now comes the laborious half — going for his first PGA Tour win, seven gamers inside 5 photographs of the lead on a course that’s giving up low scores to only about everybody.
“All people is hungry. That is what makes it troublesome out right here,” Thompson stated. “There may be a variety of losers each week out right here. You’ll be able to have nice weeks and end high 10. On the finish of the day your objective is to win the golf match.
“Yeah, it is irritating at instances, however on the finish of the day that is what you’re employed for, to place your self in these positions.”
