KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — During the first two rounds of the PGA Championship, the best field of the year could manage just 11 sub-70 rounds, and no one had two rounds in the 60s.
But the winds on what Bryson DeChambeau called “the most difficult golf course that I’ve ever played on Tour” died down a bit (and started shifting) on Saturday, giving the golfers somewhat of a one-day reprieve.
By the time the leaders teed off, six sub-70 rounds already had been carded for the day on the Ocean Course. A course on which the average score was 75.5 for Round 2 was playing more than two shots easier midway through the day.
“Even though the wind being down a little bit from the last two days, it's still a tough test from start to finish,” said Rickie Fowler, who carded his first sub-70 round of the week with a 3-under 69 to get to even for the tournament. “Anything under par is a good thing, especially Saturday, to kind of move back up into, I guess a little bit of the thick of things.”
Fowler was 4-under before posting a bogey on No. 18.
The winds were about 7 mph Saturday with few gusts. The first two rounds found steady winds of 15-20 mph with heavier gusts. Sunday’s forecast is much like it was the first two days with one big difference — the winds will do a complete 180, switching from northeast to southwest.
“There's a number of guys who have seen that other wind,” said Jordan Spieth, who had his best round with a 68 and is even for the tournament. “It will certainly be an adjustment.
“I think it will feel like a different course, but I don't think I'll have a hard time knowing what lines to take and stuff like that. But every hole will play very different. I think that's really cool.”
Rory McIlroy not happy with play on par 5s
Rory McIlroy did not take advantage of the more forgiving conditions, his undoing once again being the Par 5s.
The seventh-ranked golfer in the world, carded a 2-over 74 and is 5-over entering the final round. Once again, he was unable to take advantage of the par 5s, which played as the four easiest holes on the course.
Although he was even par on the day on the par 5s (two 5s, one bogey and one birdie), McIlroy is a stunning 3-over for the tournament on those holes, including five bogeys.
“At least I didn't play them in over par today,” he said. “The par-5s this week haven't been great. I need to do some other things better as well.”
McIlroy found the crosswinds just as difficult, despite the drop in speed.
“Not as many holes straight back into the wind or straight downwind, a lot of crosswinds,” he said, “which sort of makes it just as tricky and just as tough.”
