05 December 2021: No one doubts his chops, not even Tiger Woods. The 15-time major champion said on Saturday that Collin Morikawa is playing like an athletic version of Jim Furyk. A brilliant chip at the third showcased his silken touch as he set the ball rolling with a stunning eagle. Morikawa did not look back from there, producing the first bogey free round of the week, a scorching 64 that earned him five strokes over Brooks Koepka. As 18-under 198, Morikawa is in complete command in the Hero World Challenge.
Koepka came out swinging, but a double bogey on the eighth upended his round. And even though he wasn’t really bothered by the course after that, a 69 was just enough to land him in the final group on Sunday.
“It’s not like I’m playing crazy or I’m playing stupid,” said Morikawa. “I’m playing to my strengths and that’s what I have to stick with. I’m going to keep doing what I do and if I don’t feel comfortable on a tee shot, maybe play back, but overall I feel really good about the game so far.”
Overnight leader Bryson DeChambeau melted into the crowd after slogging his way to a 73. He started with a bogey, but corrected course with back to back birdies at the turn. Only to find another damp patch soon after. He made bogeys at the tenth and eleventh, adding another on the 17th to effectively end his hopes of a good week in the Bahamas. Bryson is 10-under, a stroke behind Scottie Scheffler.
Rory McIlroy (-4) began his week with a 66, offering visions of an early Christmas delight. Sadly though the Northern Irishman has found the going rough since then. On Saturday, he stumbled to a 75. A quadruple bogey on the eleventh was his Waterloo in the third round.
Only defending champion Henrik Stenson (+1) and Jordan Spieth (+2) are behind McIlroy. All three men will be happy just to end the week with a decent final round.
At 12-under, and just one behind Koepka are a bunch of golfers. Viktor Hovland and Patrick Reed shot 67, Sam Burns accounted for a 68, Daniel Berger took 69 while the last of them Tony Finau settled for a 70.
Tyrrell Hatton played a magical rescue from the edge of the pond on the ninth hole. His second had rolled off a slope and into the water. The Englishman somehow found the footing and the shot to bring it back on the green and secure par. At nine-under, he is tenth on the scarce leaderboard.
