Recapping a wild Round 3 of the Truist Championship where gusting winds and treacherous greens saw Ryder Cup partners Sepp Straka and Shane Lowry emerge as co-leaders at -14, setting up a thrilling Sunday.
Truist Championship R3: Ryder Cup Duo Masters the Mayhem
- Lead bullet – Ryder Cup partners Sepp Straka (66) and Shane Lowry (67) battled brutal winds and lightning-fast greens at Wissahickon to share the 54-hole lead at -14, setting up a dramatic final round showdown.
- Secondary bullet – Players universally described the course as "baring its teeth," with Straka noting the wind made it feel like "three different golf courses" in one week.
- Tertiary bullet – Straka's crucial driver fix after a mid-round text to his coach and Lowry's quest for his first individual PGA Tour win since 2019 add compelling personal narratives.
The Chasing Pack: Matsuyama's Masterclass & Mitchell's Stumble
- Lead bullet – Hideki Matsuyama electrified with a round-of-the-day 63, including a chip-in birdie on 18, to soar to -10, while 36-hole leader Keith Mitchell (71) dropped to -11.
- Secondary bullet – Mitchell cited "significantly faster" greens for his struggles, as a steady Justin Thomas (66) also moved to -11, keeping the pressure on the leaders.
- Tertiary bullet – The contrasting fortunes highlight the day's volatility, with Matsuyama's surge injecting fresh excitement into the hunt for the Truist title.
Rory's Round: Driving Woes & A Distant Challenge
- Lead bullet – Rory McIlroy carded a 69 to sit six shots adrift at -8, his title hopes dented by finding only 3 of 14 fairways, despite a highlight 53-foot birdie putt.
- Secondary bullet – His struggles off the tee came after his Round 2 comments about focusing more on his game and less on PGA Tour politics.
- Tertiary bullet – McIlroy also shared his thoughts on the golf ball rollback, adding another dimension to his week as he faces an uphill battle on Sunday.
Quick Hits
Justin Rose WD (illness) • Near aces on 14th by Tom Hoge & Matthieu Pavon • Struggles for R1 leaders (McCarthy, Fowler, Morikawa, Bhatia) • Enthusiastic Philadelphia fan support sets stage for final round
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