ORLANDO, Fla.– Kurt Kitayama steadied himself down the stretch Saturday at Bay Hill, gathering 2 birdies over the last 3 openings to getaway with an even-par 72 and also a one-shot lead in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Now comes the tough component for Kitayama, a 30-year-old Californian pursuing his initial PGA Tour triumph.
Defending champ Scottie Scheffler had 5 birdies over his last 7 openings in cozy gusts that made Bay Hill difficult as ever before. He completed with a 68 and also was round behind, together with Viktor Hovland of Norway (66 ).
Hovland completed runner-up to Scheffler a year earlier at Bay Hill.
The remainder of the competitors are what was to be anticipated with a $20 million occasion and also every PGA Tour participant from the leading 50 worldwide.
Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and also Max Homa all were within series of Kitayama if he were to shed ground or if Bay Hill was baked and also weak as it normally is for the last round.
For currently, Kitayama held his very own.
“Just proud of the way I fought,” he stated.
His two-shot lead was gone when he sent his drive well to the right and also out-of-bounds on the par-5 4th opening, and also he headed out in 39 as Hovland grew himself on top and also McIlroy made his relocation with an exceptional bogey-free round of 68.
“I think any time you can go bogey-free on the weekend at Bay Hill you’re doing something right,” McIlroy stated. “I got myself right into the tournament, into the thick of things for tomorrow.”
Two shots behind Kitayama was Tyrrell Hatton of England, that won the Arnold Palmer Invitational for his initial united state triumph in 2020, the last PGA Tour occasion prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. He additionally played bogey-free for a 66.
There was a lot of proof of problem at Bay Hill, as constantly.
Corey Conners of Canada was amongst 4 gamers that contended the very least a share of the lead at one factor Saturday, just to shoot 40 on the back 9. He completed with a shot right into the 18th that caromed off the rocks, right into the harsh and after that dripped pull back the rocks. He made bogey for a 75.
Spieth opened up bogey-bogey having fun in the last team withKitayama He still was within 2 shots of the lead however after that went the last 12 openings without birdies and also one bogey for a 74. Thomas played bogey-free till missing out on a 4-foot the same level putt on the last opening for a 72.
Homa was 4 under with his opening up 4 openings, just to decrease 4 shots the remainder of the method till a birdie on the 16th for a 71. He was 5 behind, together with Cameron Young (72 ).
Xander Schauffele went ended the tee much frequently, and also with thin down the left side of the par-5 sixth, that miss out on led to dual bogey. He had a 75 and also was 6 behind together with Patrick Cantlay, that had just 2 birdies in his round of 74.
Still, this last round can be large open.
Kitayama went to 9-under 207. A three-time champion worldwide, his look for that initial PGA Tour title has actually been come by a few of the video game’s finest gamers– Jon Rahm in the Mexico Open, Schauffele in the Scottish Open, McIlroy at the CJ Cup in South Carolina.
Now he has to emulate a host of leading gamers, and also Scheffler makes certain to obtain his interest. Scheffler currently has actually efficiently safeguarded one title this year at the WM Phoenix Open.
He cared for both par fives on the back 9, struck a lob wedge at a frightening pin on the 13th for birdie, and also conserved his finest for the par-3 17th. Even with the wind at his back, his only hope was to struck something that remained on the brick-hard environment-friendly.
The initial idea was a soft 9-iron. He really felt the wind button and also made a decision to hammer 9-iron, and also it worked out 4 feet for birdie. Scheffler topped off his birdie-birdie-birdie do with a strategy to 6 feet on the 18th.
Now the Masters champ remains in series of an additional title that can be sufficient to take him backto No 1 worldwide. Scheffler anticipates the sternest examination of the week.
“Should be another fun one,” he stated, pointing to the program and also the competitors. “That’s what’s exciting about our new schedule. I think we’re going to have a lot more of this stuff. I’m sure Viktor’s looking to beat me this year and I’m looking to do the same. There’s a lot of talented guys on the leaderboard, though. I’m not going to be too focused on anybody else other than myself going into tomorrow.”
Rahm remains in risk of shedding the leading position. He opened up with a 65 and also adhered to with 2 straight 76s. He made 5 straight bogeys around the kip down the 3rd round.
