Matt Kuchar watches a drive throughout the third spherical of the 3M Open on Saturday in Blaine, Minn.
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With only one gap left to play in his third spherical, Matt Kuchar was already in prime place on the 3M Open. However that eagle on the par-5 finisher definitely didn’t damage, both.
Kuchar chipped in from 30 yards on the 18th at TPC Twin Cities on Saturday to complete his spherical birdie-eagle and signal for an eight-under 63, good for 15 beneath total. He’s one-stroke off the 54-hole lead held by Jhonattan Vegas, who additionally shot 63.
Vegas and Kuchar can be within the remaining grouping on Sunday (together with Maverick McNealy), the place there’s rather a lot on the road for the PGA Tour veterans. Neither are at present certified for the FedEx Cup Playoffs, and for Kuchar there’s a historic streak on the road — he’s the one participant to make all 17 editions of the playoffs.
He’s at present a hundred and fifty fifth within the FedEx Cup standings, however even now at solo second he’s projected to vault to 88th. A win would assist him much more. The 3M is the penultimate occasion within the PGA Tour common season, with solely the Wyndham Championship remaining. The highest 70 after the Wyndham advance to the playoffs — and are assured to retain their PGA Tour playing cards for subsequent season.
“It’s why I’m right here and be at Wyndham as properly, simply making an attempt to verify to present myself as many probabilities as I can to crack the highest 70, make the playoffs,” stated Kuchar, who has made seven of 18 cuts this season. “A kind of stuff you suppose, Gosh, I haven’t misplaced my job in a very long time, I definitely don’t need this yr to be the yr I lose my job. It’s been a whole lot of work, however hopefully issues preserve going the suitable route.”
McNealy, a former No. 1-ranked newbie who continues to be winless in his 132 profession begins, shot 63 and sits at 14 beneath, two off the lead. Two different gamers, Patrick Fishburn and Sahith Theegala, the latter the top-ranked participant within the discipline (eleventh), are tied at 12 beneath, 4 off the lead, and three gamers are 11 beneath.
Fishburn shot 63 on Saturday within the midst of a putter change. The 32-year-old PGA Tour rookie stated his shoulders have been too open, so he considered methods to sq. them up, which he says is to grip the putter cross-handed. However that wasn’t his solely tweak. He fully modified the best way he gripped the putter, modified his putter and the loft. (He’s now utilizing an Odyssey Ai-ONE Jailbird Cruiser.)
“It’s made an enormous distinction,” stated Fishburn, who was third finally week’s Barracuda Championship with the brand new flatstick. “I’ve been hitting it fairly stable the previous couple of weeks, however the distinction has been making a number of extra putts. Modifications your recreation if you may make a putt.”
Fishburn made an eagle and only one bogey. He was within the remaining pairing final week, too, and he’ll have a late tee time come Sunday.
“Simply preserve it free and light-weight and no matter occurs, occurs,” he stated. “You’ll be able to solely management one shot at a time, so simply give my finest each shot and see.”
