Lowry six back as big names chase Todd in Memphis
Brendon Todd of the United States plays his shot from the 17th tee during the third round of the World Golf Championship-FedEx St Jude Invitational at TPC Southwind on August 01, 2020 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Shane Lowry continued his encouraging build-up to PGA Championship by firing a solid 67 to go into the final round just six shots behind leader Brendon Todd in the WGC FedEx St Jude Invitational in Memphis.
The Open champion will be disappointed that he failed to build on a fast start that saw him birdie three of his first four holes.
A three-putt bogey at the ninth halted his momentum and while he birdied the 12th and 16th, he three-putted the 17th from 52 feet and then missed an 11-footer at the last to go into the final round in a seven-way tie for 10th on six-under.
Overnight leader Todd (35) is already a two-time winner this season and he continued his remarkable comeback from the full swing yips to lead by a shot from Ben An and by two from Rickie Fowler on 12-under thanks to a battling 69.
Putting was key for Todd, who will have a host of big names chasing him down, including Brooks Koepka, the defending champion, and fellow Major winners, Phil Mickelson (50), Justin Thomas and Louis Oosthuizen.
”I put in some work with my mental coach on the greens earlier in the week,” Todd said after a round featuring five birdies and four bogeys.
”If I focus on fundamentals, good things will happen.”
An shot an impressive 66 to sit alone in second on 11-under with Fowler a shot further back after a 69.
However, all eyes will be on Koepka, who continued his resurgence in form ahead of his bid for.a hat trick of PGA Championship wins next week.
He was three-over after six holes and eight shots adrift early in the day but then made six birdies in his next eight holes, including four in a row from the ninth, before giving a shot back at the 17th
Ranked first for strokes gained off the tee and first in approach to the green, he felt he hadn’t hit the ball as well since last year’s successful PGA Championship defence at Bethpage Black, 15 months ago.
”I'm hitting it good, I like where it's at, ” Koepka said. ”I think there's still a little bit of room for improvement just for comfort as far as the changes we made are only five, six days old now.
”So every day is getting more and more comfortable, I like it, and the putting is getting more and more comfortable.
”Yesterday, I actually hit good putts all day. Went back and watched some footage of it and my alignment got off. One of those days. You think you're lined up right and it's not.
He added: ”I've seen signs of improvement every day, every day that we've played competitively and even practicing, so I knew it was kind of coming around.
”It was kind of a matter of time and that's why I've been playing every week. I think sometimes you've got to play your way into it and I've done that. I feel very comfortable with what I'm doing, changes we made. It feels honestly like it did last year around this time.”
Graeme McDowell is tied for 29th on two-under after a second successive, level par 70.
But Rory McIlroy was disappointing again, making just one birdie in a three-over 73 to lie tied 53rd on two-over.
The world No 2 is ranked 65th in the 78-man for his approach play, which has been his weakness since golf resumed after the lockdown.
World No 1 Jon Rahm has fared even worse and finds himself tied 67th on five-over.
