TULSA, Oklahoma (Reuters) – After narrowly making the minimize a defiant Tiger Woods headed out for his third round at the PGA Championship at rainy Southern Hills on Saturday nonetheless believing he had an opportunity to hoist the Wanamaker trophy.
But actuality shortly struck house as any glimmer of a miracle charge dimmed with a dismal entrance 9 blotted by a triple-bogey.
After taking his third bogey of the day at the ninth a dejected Woods gave a half-hearted wave to the cheering gallery and trudged off to the tenth tee now 18 pictures adrift of chief Will Zalatoris.
Sitting 12 off the tempo at the beginning of play the duty dealing with Woods already seemed not possible however the 46-year-old American has made a profession of defying the chances, together with his newest comeback from a automobile crash 15 months in the past that just about value him his proper leg.
“Hopefully I can publish a great round and at least transfer up the board, get myself inside placing distance on Sunday,” stated Woods, at the tip of Friday’s second round. “I’m fairly far again, however you simply by no means know.
“You simply by no means know once you may get scorching.”
Neither the 15-time main winner or the climate have been scorching on Saturday as golfers have been greeted by chilly temperatures after thunderstorms and rain delayed the beginning of play by greater than a half hour.
Woods, in his second begin following his comeback final month at the Masters the place he additionally made the minimize, noticed any likelihood of a rally fizzle with an outward 9 as dreary because the climate.
A bogey at the second was adopted by a triple-bogey six at the par-three sixth after discovering the water along with his tee shot.
The slide continued with one other bogey at seven and another at 9.
Tough circumstances are anticipated to worsen at Southern Hills by the point the leaders tee off mid-afternoon.
Zalatoris is perched atop the leaderboard at nine-under after an error free 65 second round leaving him one away from Chilean shock package deal Mito Pereira, who’s taking part in in simply his second main.
Justin Thomas, the 2017 PGA Championship winner, is three again with twice Masters winner Bubba Watson 4 off the tempo after rocketing into competition with a second round 63 that equalled the PGA Championship 18-hole scoring document.
First round chief Rory McIlroy struggled to a one-over 71 in the second round, however the Northern Irishman remained in competition for a third PGA Championship title lurking 5 strokes again.
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Tulsa. Editing by Martyn Herman)
