Streb three clear at Sea Island as McDowell and Lowry slip back
ST SIMONS ISLAND, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 21: Robert Streb of the United States plays his shot from the sixth tee during the third round of The RSM Classic at the Seaside Course at Sea Island Golf Club on November 21, 2020 in St Simons Island, Georgia. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Oklahoma’s Robert Streb can end his five-year wait for a second PGA Tour win after a bogey-free, three-under 67 on the Seaside Course gave him a three-shot lead heading into the final round of the RSM Classic at Sea Island.
The 33-old won The McGladrey Classic at Sea Island in 2014 but while he has since won on the Korn Ferry Tour, he has a chance to return to the winner’s circle as he leads on 17-under par from Zach Johnson (65) and Bronson Burgoon (67).
Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo is alone in fourth, four shots off the pace on 13-under after a 65 with Kevin Kisner (66), Kyle Stanley (68) and Camilio Villegeas (70) joint fifth on 12-under.
Graeme McDowell is tied for 49th on four-under after he carded an up an down, level par 70. The Portrush native started on the back nine with birdies at the 13th and 15th but then took four to get down from rough left of the short 17th and made a double bogey five.
He dropped further shots at the second and fourth but made a 30 footer at the seventh and a 17 footer at the eighth to get back to level for the day.
Shane Lowry had three three putts as he slipped from 42nd to 55th after a one-over 71.
The Open champion hot 14 of 18 greens but made little with the putter, three-putting from long range at the 14th, second and third as he mixed three birdies with four bogeys.
RSM Classic, Sea Island, Georgia
Weather: Partly cloudy, with a high of 74. Wind NE 10-15 mph, with gusts to 20 mph.
Third-Round Leaderboard
Robert Streb (SS-PL) 65-63-67—195 (-17)
Zach Johnson (SS-PL) 66-67-65—198 (-14)
Bronson Burgoon (SS-PL) 68-63-67—198 (-14)
Emiliano Grillo (SS-PL) 66-68-65—199 (-13)
Things to Know
2014 The RSM Classic winner Robert Streb ties the record for largest 54-hole lead in tournament history
Saint Simons Island resident Zach Johnson ties the day’s low score of 5-under 65 with a 31’11” birdie on his last hole; in position for first The RSM Classic title in his 11th effort
Bronson Burgoon makes five birdies on a 6-hole stretch in bid for first career PGA TOUR win in 97th start
Emiliano Grillo plays his last four holes in 4-under par to shoot 5-under 65 and tie the low round of the day
With one bogey through 54 holes, 2015 The RSM Classic winner Kevin Kisner improves position with a 4-under 66
Making his 330th career PGA TOUR start, a win for Camilo Villegas Sunday would come in his 103rd start since his fourth and most recent TOUR victory
Third-Round Lead Notes
6 Third-round leaders/co-leaders at The RSM Classic to win: Heath Slocum (2010), Chris Kirk (2013), Kevin Kisner (2015), Mackenzie Hughes (2016), Austin Cook (2017) and Charles Howell III (2018)
3 Third-round leaders/co-leaders to win in 2020-21: Sergio Garcia (Sanderson Farms Championship), Martin Laird (Shriners Hospitals for Children Open), Dustin Johnson (Masters Tournament)
3 Largest lead at The RSM Classic: Kevin Kisner (2015), Austin Cook (2017), Robert Streb (2020)
Entering the Week Robert Streb
Age 33 (4/7/1987)
FedExCup 148
OWGR 380
Starts at The RSM Classic 6
Top-10s at The RSM Classic 1 (won/2014)
Career PGA TOUR starts 213
Career PGA TOUR wins 1
Career PGA TOUR top-10s 19
PGA TOUR starts in 2020-21 4
PGA TOUR top-10s in 2020-21 0
A win Sunday would come in his 165th PGA TOUR start since his 2014 The RSM Classic victory
With a win, would become the first player to capture his first two TOUR victories at the same event since Daniel Berger (2016-17 FedEx St. Jude Classic)
With a win, would become the first two-time winner of The RSM Classic
With a win, would become the fifth consecutive player to convert a 36-hole lead/co-lead into victory at The RSM Classic
Three-stroke lead ties the record for largest 54-hole lead in tournament history
Lone bogey through 54 holes came at the 11th hole in round hole (Plantation Course)
Is making his seventh start in The RSM Classic; since his 2014 victory, has yet to finish higher than T25 (2015)
Was T12 and five strokes off the lead through 54 holes in the 2014 event, before closing with a 7-under 63 and winning in sudden death over Brendon de Jonge and Will MacKenzie
In 40 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour, won twice (most recently the 2018 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship over Peter Malnati in sudden death)
Miscellaneous Notes
Saint Simons Island resident Zach Johnson (-14/T2) tied the low round of the day with a 5-under 65, highlighted by a 31’11” birdie on the last hole; seeks a 13th career TOUR title and first since the 2015 The Open Championship; In 10 previous The RSM Classic starts, finished in the top 10 in 2017 (T8) and 2018 (T7)
Following his bogey-free 9-under 63 in round two, Bronson Burgoon (-14/T2) birdied five holes in a 6-hole stretch on the inward nine to shoot 3-under 67 and stay well within reach of his first career TOUR title; in four previous starts at The RSM Classic, has three missed three cuts and a T70
Making his first start in The RSM Classic, Emiliano Grillo (-13/4th) played Nos. 15-18 eagle-par-birdie-birdie to tie the day’s low round of 5-under 65
2015 The RSM Classic winner Kevin Kisner (-12/T5) posted a bogey-free 4-under 66 as he looks to become the event’s first two-time champion; en route to 2015 win, posted 6-under 64 in rounds three and four to win by six strokes; seeks fourth career TOUR title and first since the 2019 World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play
Camilo Villegas (-12/T5) posted an even-par 70 as he looks for a fifth TOUR title and first since the 2014 Wyndham Championship
Bogey-free rounds:
R1 PL (2): Doug Ghim (67), Kevin Kisner (68)
R1 SS (3): Camilo Villegas (64), Rory Sabbatini (65), Nate Lashley (68)
R2 PL (7): Robert Streb (63), Bronson Burgoon (63), Kyle Stanley (65), Lucas Glover (68), Tyrrell Hatton (68), Emiliano Grillo (68), Jason Dufner (69)
R2 SS (4): Joel Dahmen (61), Brian Stuard (63), Brandt Snedeker (66), Graeme McDowell (68)
R3 (5): Andrew Landry (65), Kevin Kisner (66), Matthew NeSmith (66), Ian Poulter (68), Robert Streb (69)
