Viktor Hovland lost the PGA Championship lead to the United States, but is still in the lead going into the final round.
Brooks Koepka topped the field for the second straight day as he again shot a four-under 66 in the third round at Oak Hill in upstate New York at the PGA Championship.
The American thus takes the lead alone with a total of six under par, one stroke ahead of the Norwegian Viktor Hovland and the Canadian Corey Conners.
The weather was anything but easy for the players with lots of rain in the third round of the second major tournament of the year.
– It was tough with the rain. Grass moisture slows down. But I felt like I was a lot more aggressive than the previous two days on the greens, Koepka said.
Hovland lost their shared lead after the second round due to brilliant play from Koepka, but are eagerly awaiting the finish on Sunday.
– I’ll try to do the same thing I’ve been doing for the past few days. I don’t think this is a track where you can get too crazy. You have to play smart, hit the middle of the greens and give yourself plenty of chances and hopefully warm up the putter, Hovland says.
Hovland has three PGA Tour wins in his career. He finished tied for fourth at the British Open last year, followed by a tie for seventh last month at Augusta National.
The 25-year-old Norwegian will be put to the test when he takes on Koepka, who has four major wins to his name and is aiming for his third PGA Championship title in the last six years.
But a confident Hovland says he will take it easy and play his own game.
“If you’re lucky enough to play in the last group on a Sunday in a major, that’s pretty special,” Hovland said after posting a par 70 in the third round on Saturday.
– Of course, I want to win, but I will only do what I think is right every time, and if I am beaten, I will be beaten, but the plan is not to give victory, says the Norwegian. (© NTB)
