Morikawa surrenders five clear before two poor errors led down to two over injured Brooks Koepka and a quick-finishing Billy Horschel, with Rory McIlroy just four behind going to the cross. into the final round in Florida.
By Keith Jackson
Last updated: 27/02/21 11:57 pm
Collin Morikawa led five half-ways through his third round
Collin Morikawa took control of the WGC-Workday Tournament after a stint of golf in the third round of The Concession in Florida.
While the night’s director Brooks Koepka had to do an in-depth study of his competing sources to stay in contention while battling a painful neck problem, Morikawa stepped into a directional drive with seven birdies in eight holes on each side of the leg.
That incredible run of scoring lifted him five out of the field at the time, but then offered a save line to the run pack with a false finish, making scrappy bogey-sixes at all five five behind. nine and joins disappointment 67.
The PGA champion closed on 15 under and will enter the final two strokes ahead of Koepka, who did well to get around in 70, and Billy Horschel, while Rory McIlroy is only four off distance after picking up five hits over the last seven holes for a 66 card.
Morikawa made two mistakes on par fives that saw his lead cut in half
With Koepka clearly struggling with injury and pushed into damage limiting mode after a bogey-bogey start, Morikawa called up with five consecutive birdies from the fifth, including a 32-foot putt for a two-goal bonus at the sixth sixth, and watched a course to run away with the competition as he took two more shots at 11 and 12.
But he missed his move when he added three of the next green to drop his second view of the day, and had to squirm hard to save par on each of the next two holes before he would make a mess of the 17th long, finding two bunkers on the way to the green and running up six more ugly ones.
Horschel suddenly pulled inside two of the lead as he kicked back from swamps at 13 and 14 with a birdie at 16 and an eagle at the final hole, where his second 260 yards came inside. inches from hitting the flag and settled just 12 feet past the cup.
Brooks Koepka was injured with a neck injury but did well to provoke
His excellent finish saved 69 and got to 13 under with Koepka, who cleared the discomfort from his hard neck to keep other bogs off his cart after a terrible start while he was playing. accumulation of four birdies, including late wins at 16 and 17 added to a commendable 70.
Webb Simpson also got 13 under with birdies at the 16th and 17th only to bring one back at the last to drag three behind Morikawa, while McIlroy goes face-to-face with Patrick Reed in the most interesting couple of the last day after that the pair closed at 11 under par.
McIlroy admits his game is still a work in progress as the inconsistency of his year so far has yet to be seen early Saturday, marked by the first when he stopped his game. drive into the trees but trim an elegant revival from the pine straw to 15 feet and roll. in the putt for a birdie.
Rory McIlroy shot at 66 to get inside four of the lead
After one step forward, he was two back on the next as he thinned his second one out of a fairway bunker, his ball catching his lips and sifting into the water. , a six – bogey error cost him, but his repair work was commendable as he got back on track with three birdies in four holes from the seventh.
McIlroy again criticized at 11, but put 12 and two lusty blows down the 13th long setting up a three-footed eagle from 12 feet, while other wins at 15 and 17 got him firmly back into the fourth title for World Golf Championship.
A Northern Irishman later admitted that he felt he had been “riding the rollercoaster” on the course this week, a comment that was appropriate for Reed’s scorecard on the third day. – his 69 with seven birdies, two bogs and one double bogey at the 13th, when he needed five straight hits to find the putting surface.
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Viktor Hovland didn’t spend much time getting over his bog quads on his final hole of the second round, going back with a 66 that took him to 10 under and to certainly within incredible distance from Morikawa.
Norway are tied for seventh place by Ryder Cup teammate Matt Fitzpatrick, who mixed four birdies with three bogeys in 71, while Louis Oosthuizen and Tony Finau are one stroke later.