Dufner retains CareerBuilder lead
Jason Dufner shot an eight-under par 64 to take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the CareerBuilder Challenge in Palm Springs, California.
Dufner carded 10 birdies on the day, seven came during his back nine at the La Quinta Country Club, and finished on 23-under for the tournament to maintain his lead.
Jamie Lovemark remained the American’s nearest challenger as the 28-year-old recorded a bogey-free round of 65 which included seven birdies to reach 21-under for the tournament.
Canadian Adam Hadwin sits in third place after an up and down round saw him also card a 64. The 28-year-old sprung out of the blocks in his opening nine holes notching five birdies and an eagle before dropping a shot on the 10th.
Three birdies followed but another dropped shot on the 15th leaves him three shots back of leader Dufner entering the final round on 20-under.
David Lingmerth (-18) and Kevin Na (-17) were the big movers of the day as the pair sprung up board to fourth and fifth respectively.
Phil Mickelson also hauled himself into contention with a bogey-free round of 66 which included a holing a trademark flop shot on the 10th.
Dufner revealed his delight at securing a slight advantage ahead of the final round and admitted that he had predicted his astonishing back nine.
"I told the guys [playing partners] that I was going to have a good back nine… that I was about to do something good and it happened," Dufner said.
"When you start thinking like that, good things happen so that's just kind of where my mindset is right now. It helps when you are shooting 30s and 29s obviously, which I've done a couple of times this week.
"I'm playing good. I'm not in any trouble, I feel relaxed out there. I never feel like this has to happen or that has to happen. I'm just playing golf like you should."
Latest
-
PGA ChampionshipMito Pereira with three-shot lead at US PGA as Tiger Woods withdraws
It is the first time in his career that Woods has withdrawn from a major.
-
PGA ChampionshipMatt Fitzpatrick relishing chance at securing first major title
A third round of 67 means Fitzpatrick trails leader Mito Pereira by three shots at the US PGA Championship.
-
PGA ChampionshipTiger Woods withdraws from US PGA following his worst round at event
The American made the halfway cut with a shot to spare at Southern Hills, but struggled to a nine-over-par 79 in the third round.
-
PGA ChampionshipRory McIlroy suffers early blow to slip further back at PGA Championship
After a run of five straight pars McIlroy pulled his tee shot to the par-three sixth into the water and ran up a double-bogey five.
-
PGA ChampionshipKramer Hickok holes out of bunker to record remarkable bogey in Tulsa
He went on to post a third round of 75 to lie seven over par at the US PGA Championship.
-
PGA ChampionshipTiger Woods falls away at US PGA Championship after nightmare third round
The 15-time major winner had only made the cut with a shot to spare.
-
PGA ChampionshipTyrrell Hatton criticises state of greens at Southern Hills after exit
The 30-year-old had branded Augusta National ‘unfair at times’ after closing rounds of 79 and 80 in last month’s Masters.
-
PGA ChampionshipHistory with Will Zalatoris in push for first major title at US PGA Championship
The American was runner-up in the 2021 Masters and had recorded four top-10 finishes in his seven major appearances before this week.
-
PGA ChampionshipRory McIlroy hails ‘ultimate pro’ Tiger Woods for making halfway cut at US PGA
McIlroy could only add a second round of 71 to his opening 65 at Southern Hills.
-
PGA ChampionshipTiger Woods survives halfway cut to keep US PGA hopes alive
Woods looked set for an early exit following a double bogey on the 11th hole of his second round.