Trio in front at Memorial
Matt Kuchar, William McGirt and Gary Woodland found themselves one stroke ahead at the Memorial Tournament on Saturday.
The trio are on 14-under and are closely followed by Dustin Johnson, Jon Curran, Emiliano Grillo and Adam Hadwin, who are in a tie for fourth on 13-under.
World number one Jason Day is three shots adrift of the lead in a tie for 11th, while Rory McIlroy is in a tie for 21st on nine-under.
World number two Jordan Spieth struggled on Saturday and plunged down the leaderboard as a result.
Kuchar, who carded a 70, began his round with two bogeys on his first four holes before atoning for his mistake with a hat-trick of birdies from the fifth to seventh. He did, however, end the front nine with a bogey at the eighth.
Another bogey followed at the 10th, but he bounced back with four birdies over his next five holes before once again faltering with a bogey at the 18th. Despite this, it was enough to keep him in a share of the lead.
McGirt surged up 21 spots following his round of 64, which began with him making three birdies, which included a 33-foot putt at the first, and a three-foot eagle putt at the par-five fifth. McGirt maintained his momentum on the back nine as he made four more birdies and a bogey.
Woodland, who registered a 69, had a very quiet front nine as it consisted of a sole birdie at the seventh. He went on to make two more on the back nine to complete a bogey-free round.
Day recorded a 68 on Saturday and began his round with a bogey at the second before he bounced back with four birdies over his next five holes. The Australian continued to impress for a majority of the back nine as he made three birdies before stumbling at the par-four 18th, where he made a double bogey.
McIlroy slipped down nine spots after firing a 70, which saw him make two birdies and a bogey on the front nine. He failed to turn his fortunes around on the back nine as he made three birdies and two bogeys.
Meanwhile, Spieth plummeted down 36 spots on the leaderboard following his round of 74, which began with him making two birdies and three bogeys on the front nine. His struggles continued on the back nine as he made a birdie and two more bogeys.
Latest
-
NewsSergio Garcia hits hole-in-one to reach WGC Match Play last 16
The Spaniard made an ace on the fourth play-off hole to get the better of Lee Westwood.
-
NewsTommy Fleetwood holds off Bryson DeChambeau to progress in Austin
The Englishman had been four up but the match went down the last.
-
NewsRory McIlroy on current form: ‘The game is testing me more than it has done in recent years’
The former World No 1 admits only hard work will lift him out of his current run of bad form.
-
NewsDustin Johnson finishes strongly to avoid defeat to Robert MacIntyre in Austin
Johnson made an eagle on the par-five 16th and birdied the 17th.
-
NewsJustin Thomas crashes out of WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play after second loss
Thomas lost 3&2 to Matt Kuchar on day one and 2&1 to defending champion Kevin Kisner on Thursday.
-
NewsIan Poulter backs Rory McIlroy to bounce back after match play rout
The four-time major champion has made recent changes to his team.
-
NewsRory McIlroy off to losing start at WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play
Ian Poulter claimed a comprehensive victory at Austin Country Club.
-
NewsDanny Willett reunited with caddie Jonathan Smart in the Dominican Republic
Willett and Smart split just over a year after their triumph at Augusta National in 2016.
-
NewsMatt Fitzpatrick feels like the underdog as he prepares to face Jordan Spieth
The Englishman is the top seed in their group at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.
-
NewsJon Rahm in favour of straight knockout format returning for WGC Match Play
The world number three does not believe players who lose a match should remain in the tournament.