Sports

Newcomers Wolff, Morikawa grab share of PGA 3M Open lead

July 07, 2019

WASHINGTON — Former world amateur number one Colin Morikawa and 2019 US college champion Matthew Wolff, both US PGA newcomers, matched US compatriot Bryson DeChambeau for the 3M Open lead after Saturday's third round.

Wolff matched the course record at TPC Twin Cities with a nine-under par 62 while Morikawa fired a 64 to leave both on 15-under 198 after 54 holes at Blaine, Minnesota.

DeChambeau equaled the suburban Los Angeles products by shooting 70, opening and closing with birdies against a bogey when he missed the green at the par-3 13th.

Canada's Adam Hadwin and American Wyndham Clark shared fourth on 199 with Japan's Hideki Matsuyama and Americans Charles Howell and Troy Merritt on 200.

Wolff, a 20-year-old Oklahoma State product who won the US college title in May, birdied six consecutive holes at one stretch to become the youngest 54-hole PGA co-leader since 1983.

"It was an awesome feeling," Wolff said. "Everything all came together. Everything was clicking. It's a great feeling to have going into tomorrow."

Wolff would be the second-youngest US PGA Tour winner in 80 years, eclipsed only by Jordan Spieth, who won the 2013 John Deere Classic at age 19.

"It's going to be difficult," Wolff said. "It's something I've dreamed about since I was a little kid. But I've been looking forward to it for so long and I think I'm ready."

Morikawa, 22, is in only his sixth US PGA start. He shared 14th at last month's Canadian Open before sharing 35th at the US Open and 36th at the Travelers Championship.

"I've put three solid rounds together and I look forward to tomorrow," said Morikawa. "I've got a smooth tempo. If I can stay at that tomorrow it should be pretty exciting."

DeChambeau, 25, sank a six-foot birdie putt at the par-5 18th to match the leaders as he chases a sixth career US PGA title and second victory of the year after taking the European Tour's Dubai Desert Classic in January.

Wolff, who made his PGA debut in February at Phoenix on a sponsor's exemption, has a unique swing, kicking his legs up as he brings the club around to make contact on long shots.

"It just feels natural to me," Wolff said. "It's definitely different but it has been working for quite a while now."

Wolff sank an 11-foot birdie putt at the third then reeled off six birdies in a row from the fifth through the 10th holes with a longest birdie putt from eight feet at 10.

"After I got that birdie on 10, I was on a roll, I was thinking maybe (59) could be a number," Wolff said. "But I've been taught to stay in the moment and that's what I did."

After holing a 26-footer to birdie the par-3 13th, Wolff put his approach to three feet at 15 to set up a birdie, took his lone bogey at the par-3 17th after finding a bunker, then birdied the par-5 18th from nine feet.

'Morikawa lives dream'

Morikawa sank a 10-foot birdie putt at the first hole, then birdied four of the next six after landing his approaches inside 5-1/2 feet.

He made a 12-footer for birdie at 11 and blasted out of a bunker then holed a 16-footer for birdie at the par-5 12th. After his lone bogey at 15, Morikawa birdied the par-3 17th from three feet and parred 18.

"I've been able to make some birdies out here and I hope to keep it up one more day," Morikawa said.

"I've always had this dream of going to school for four years and coming out here and living what I wanted to do since I was a little kid." — AFP


July 07, 2019
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