From lurking stars to a feel-good winner, the ultimate spherical of the American Categorical might be full of drama if Sepp Straka falters.
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The PGA Tour arrived on the American Categorical in La Quinta, Calif., with out its anticipated two headliners for the early-season cease.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler withdrew final as he continues to rehab from the puncture wound damage in his hand that he suffered on Christmas Day. In the meantime, World No. 2 Xander Schauffele withdrew early this week together with his supervisor citing a “medical cause.”
These absences sting, however the stars within the discipline are going low on the AmEx (as standard), delivering a packed leaderboard heading into Sunday.
Austrian Sepp Straka holds the 54-hole lead at 23-under after placing collectively rounds of 64, 65, and an 8-under 64 on Saturday at La Quinta Nation Membership. Straka enters Sunday in good place to assert his third profession PGA Tour victory and first for the reason that 2023 John Deere Basic.
However he’ll must fend off a crowded group that features stars, a number of gamers trying to find their breakthrough second, and a veteran trying to snap a prolonged drought.
Listed below are 5 issues to observe as Straka seems to be to shut the deal on Sunday.
Stars lurking
Low numbers are there available on Sundays on the American Categorical.
In 2023, Schauffele fired a final-round, 10-under, virtually nipping winner Jon Rahm on the wire. Final yr, Kevin Yu carded a 9-under on Sunday however fell in need of winner Nick Dunlap’s mark by two strokes.
Whereas Straka will begin Sunday with a four-shot lead, Jason Day (19-under), Patrick Cantlay (18-under), and Justin Thomas (17-under) are all able to going low on Sunday to steal it from Straka ought to he stumble.
Thomas had it going Saturday earlier than he missed a 3-foot-8-inch putt for birdie at 16. He then stepped as much as the par-3 seventeenth and hit his tee shot into the water. Thomas saved a bogey, however his late-round stumbles possible value him an opportunity to have an actual shot at successful his first match for the reason that 2022 PGA Championship.
Whereas Thomas stumbled dwelling, his taking part in companion, Day, completed with birdies at 16 and 18 to complete at 19-under and in a tie for second place. After doing nice work across the greens within the first spherical, Day’s iron play and putter carried him on Saturday. Per DataGolf, Day gained 1.56 pictures on method within the third spherical and 1.21 pictures on the inexperienced.
Within the third spherical, the Australian gained 4.05 pictures on the sphere. Day hasn’t gained for the reason that 2023 AT&T Byron Nelson.
Cantlay, in the meantime, birdied his closing three holes to get in the home at 18-under. He hasn’t gained for the reason that 2022 BMW Championship.
Hoffman’s time?
Charley Hoffman has been trying to find a manner again into the winner’s circle since successful the Valero Texas Open in 2016.
The 48-year-old Hoffman got here near successful final yr when he misplaced to Nick Taylor in a playoff on the Waste Administration Phoenix Open. However Hoffman’s solely two different top-10 finishes final yr got here on the Corales Puntacana Championship and the Barracuda Championship.
Hoffman has solely completed inside the highest 70 within the FedEx Cup as soon as within the final 5 years (2020-21 season).
Ranked No. 134 on the planet, he’s hopeful he can rekindle some previous magic on Sunday.
“I play this sport to be in rivalry, and clearly I had an opportunity final yr on the WM Phoenix Open,” Hoffman instructed Golf Channel after his third spherical. “I like getting my juices going. That’s what I apply for. That’s why I play this sport. I don’t play this sport to try to make cuts and end within the prime 100. I attempt to win golf tournaments. You possibly can solely do it if you happen to’re in positon tomorrow and I’m going to hopefully thrive. I’ve failed earlier than however I’ve succeeded and hopefully I’m going to attract from all these experiences and hopefully I’m going to have an opportunity coming down the previous few holes.”
Even when he doesn’t win Sunday, spherical ought to assist Hoffman safe a spot within the AT&T Pebble Seashore Professional-Am, the season’s first signature occasion, by way of the Aon Swing 5. As of Saturday, Hoffman has vaulted to 3rd place within the Aon Swing 5 leaderboard, which places him in a great place to earn a ticket to Pebble Seashore with one occasion left within the “swing” after this week.
Will a first-time winner strike?
Whereas they won’t be the headliners, the ultimate spherical of the American Categorical could have no scarcity of professionals gunning for his or her first profession PGA Tour win.
Thirty-five-year-old Justin Decrease will begin the day the closest to Straka after capturing a third-round 68 to complete at 19-under.
Decrease had the putter rolling Saturday, choosing up 3.82 pictures on the greens to remain inside hanging distance of Staka.
The Akron, Ohio, native has been knocking on the door of late. Final season, Decrease carded 5 top-10 finishes, together with a runner-up on the World Vast Know-how Championship and a third-place end on the Mexico Open at Vidanta.
“I’m getting extra comfy,” Decrease stated after his second spherical. “Nonetheless, there’s nonetheless some discomfort there, for certain, I’d say. It’s slightly completely different taking part in on the prime and whatnot, however it’s the place all of us need to be, it’s what all of us attempt for, so yeah, simply actually making an attempt to take it one shot at a time, as cliche as that’s, however that’s one of the simplest ways to do it.”
One other professional searching for his first win is Max Greyserman, who fired a 7-under 65 on Saturday to provide himself a shot to go low Sunday for his first title. In his first full season on tour final yr, the 29-year-old Greyserman posted three runner-up finishes and 6 prime 10s to complete forty eighth within the FedEx Cup standings.
Greyserman’s spherical Saturday was buoyed by a hole-out eagle from 156 yards.
The third member of the potential first-time winner’s membership is Mark Hubbard …
A feel-good story
The 35-year-old Hubbard began his week 15-under by way of two rounds to place him firmly in rivalry. However Hubbard’s good play meant extra to him than the place it positioned him on the leaderboard this week.
A lot of Hubbard’s relations and buddies have been impacted by the wildfires which have ravaged Los Angeles since final week. Mark’s brother Nathan misplaced his dwelling, as did a number of others. Twenty household and buddies are watching Hubbard this week as a result of they’ve been pressured to evacuate and determined to make their manner south to observe Hubbard for a reprieve.
Mark lives in Texas, however that doesn’t reduce the affect the tragedy has had on him. With
“We’ve had a tough go,” Mark Hubbard instructed PGATour.com’s Paul Hodowanic.
“It’s a pleasant escape to be on the market and never fascinated by different stuff. It undoubtedly makes it simpler to comprehend that that is only a dumb sport and none of this actually issues in any respect.”
Hubbard’s finest profession end got here on the 2019 Houston Open, the place he completed in second place.
A low Sunday and a few assist from these in entrance of him would make for a closing spherical to recollect for the Hubbards and the Tour.
Golf.com Editor
Josh Schrock is a author and reporter for Golf. com. Earlier than becoming a member of GOLF, Josh was the Chicago Bears insider for NBC Sports activities Chicago. He beforehand lined the 49ers and Warriors for NBC Sports activities Bay Space. A local Oregonian and UO alum, Josh spends his free time mountain climbing together with his spouse and canine, considering of how the Geese will break his coronary heart once more, and making an attempt to develop into semi-proficient at chipping. A real romantic for golf, Josh won’t ever cease making an attempt to interrupt 90 and by no means lose religion that Rory McIlroy’s main drought will finish. Josh could be reached at josh.schrock@golf.com.
