While 54-hole leader Hideki Matsuyama apparently made whatever on the greens, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler might not purchase a pail.
That is why Scheffler deals with a seven-shot deficit entering into the last round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship. The ruling Masters champ lost 1.5 strokes on the greens, ranking 61st amongst the 70-player field on Saturday. He even revealed an unusual burst of aggravation on the 12th hole, knocking the face of his putter into his hand after another missed out on birdie shot.
Scheffler missed out on 4 birdie putts within 12 feet. He made just 53 feet of putts in general– with practically half of that beginning the par-3 11th, where he gathered a 24-footer for birdie. That was the only putt Scheffler made over 5 feet.
“I did strike a number of lips, however I didn't seem like I was striking it too great,” Scheffler evaluated.
“There were times where I seemed like I was getting away with some things, striking some great pitches, making some excellent conserves, however I seemed like I struck a great deal of lips today. Yeah, it occurs.”
Still, he handled to publish a 1-under 69, a day that consisted of 4 birdies and 3 bogies. If he desires to threaten Matsuyama on Sunday, he thinks he has to offer himself much better looks on the greens.
“Just get the ball a bit better to the hole and provide myself more chances,” Scheffler included.
“Today I seemed like, like I stated, I got away with some things, so ideally, tidy it up a bit and offer myself a great deal of more chances today.”
Matsuyama holds a commanding five-shot lead over novice Nick Dunlap, who beings in solo 2nd at 12-under. Viktor Hovland, on the other hand, published a 4-under 66 on Saturday to go up the leaderboard to 11-under and into solo 3rd.
There is Scheffler, who has actually made huge resurgences before. He tracked Xander Schauffele by 5 strokes at The Players Championship and fired an 8-under 64 to win by one. Scheffler carded one of the finest rounds of his profession in Paris, shooting a 9-under 62 to conquer a four-shot deficit to win the gold medal.
7 might be too much to conquer. That stated, Scheffler stays positive about his opportunities considering that TPC Southwind has 11 holes with water in play.
“It's a golf course where there's chance and there's a great deal of problem,” Scheffler stated.
“It's going to be difficult to close it out on the back 9. There's a great deal of water boiling down the stretch. Attempt to get off to a great start, and Hideki is undoubtedly playing some wonderful golf, however do my finest to put a little bit of pressure on him and see what occurs.”
Jack Milko is a golf personnel author for SB Nation's Playing Through.