Latest news with #WGCMatchPlay
The Sun
25 minutes ago
- Sport
- The Sun
No.1 Scheffler well back as pal Burns fights for US Open title
TOP-RANKED Scottie Scheffler finds himself in a new position at a golf major, struggling well back while his pal Sam Burns battles for the US Open crown. Scheffler won his third major title at last month's PGA Championship and has won three of his past four starts after a 2024 season that brought nine wins, including Paris Olympic gold. Burns, who has known Scheffler since they were teens, often travels and shares a rental house with his world number one buddy, but hasn't had the same success. Burns has not won since taking his fifth career PGA Tour title in 2023 at the WGC Match Play. His best major finish in 20 major starts was sharing ninth at last year's US Open. Scheffler fired a level-par 70 in Saturday's third round at Oakmont to stand on four-over 214, finishing even as Burns was fighting fellow American J.J. Spaun for the lead. Scheffler knew what the routine would be when they got back to their house ahead of the final round, as they have done it so many times before. 'Sam's going to tee off at 3:30, get off the golf course at 8, he's going to come talk to (reporters), go do his therapy and I might be in bed by the time he gets home. I mean, really,' Scheffler said. 'The conversation in the morning, we just hang out. There will be two little kids running around. There's nothing crazy. There's not much to say. 'Sam has been preparing for moments like this for a long time and he has put himself in position to win the golf tournament and he's going to go out tomorrow and try and execute. 'At the end of the day all he's going to do is just go out there and do his best and that's what I'm going to try to do tomorrow as well.' One thing Scheffler has noticed is the consistency Burns has built around himself with his team and the trust level they have. 'In terms of just your development as a player and a person, I think that consistency with the people around you is really important,' Scheffler said. 'Sam has got a coach (Brad Pullin) that he has had for a long time, and you look at something like yesterday me getting frustrated on the range with my coach, and Sam has definitely been in that position before. 'It's just one of those deals. When you have the trust between people that you're almost like a family, you've worked together for so long, I think that's how his team feels as well.' Still a chance Two-time Masters champion Scheffler hasn't given up on taking the title, but he is realistic about his chances. 'I've been battling out there and still have a chance, albeit an outside chance, but still a chance,' Scheffler said. 'I put myself in this position. It's not the position I want to be in, but I've done a good job of hanging in there and staying in the tournament. When he left the course, Scheffler was seven strokes off the pace. 'Do I feel like I'm out of the tournament? No. Do I wish I played a little bit better today? Yeah. Of course,' he said. 'Play better. Hit some fairways. Hit some greens. Hole a few putts.' 'I was battling hard. A good job of battling, but hopefully tomorrow will be a little bit more free than a battle.'
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Sam Burns seizes third round US Open lead with Adam Scott and JJ Spaun one back
Sam Burns grabbed a one-stroke advantage by scoring one-under-par 69, leading ahead of JJ Spaun and Adam Scott after Saturday's third round at the US Open. Burns, who clinched victory at the 2023 WGC Match Play, maintained four-under 206 after 54 holes at Oakmont Country Club. Spaun, with his sole PGA Tour victory at the 2022 Texas Open, recorded 69 with a bogey at the 18th hole to share the second position at 207. Scott, who won the Masters in 2013, secured three birdies in the final six holes to score 67 and reach 207, positioning himself two strokes ahead of Viktor Hovland from Norway in fourth place. The quartet will compete in the final two groups on Sunday for the championship round, vying for the $4.3 million winner's purse. Live Events Burns and Spaun, who played together in the last group, exchanged the lead throughout the day. Their intense early competition concluded when Burns scored a close-range birdie at the fifth hole to equal Spaun at three-under. Burns seized the outright lead at four-under by making a seven-foot birdie putt on the par-three 13th hole, but later dropped a shot with a bogey at the 16th. The duo each scored birdies on the 17th, with Burns placing his approach shot extremely close to the hole while Spaun successfully holed a putt from nearly 14 feet away. On the final hole, both players' tee shots found the right rough. Burns managed to reach the green, whereas Spaun's ball landed in a bunker. After Spaun's bunker shot and subsequent two putts resulted in a bogey, Burns clinched the solo lead by converting a four-foot putt fo Scott, 44, can become the second-oldest US Open champion, following American Hale Irwin who clinched victory at 45 in 1990. Scott demonstrated precision by placing his tee shot within five feet of the par-three 13th hole and followed it with an exceptional approach shot at the 14th that stopped inches from the cup, resulting in birdies. He successfully managed a bunker shot at the 17th and converted a 14-foot putt for birdie. Hovland recovered from a bunker at the 17th hole, settling for a straightforward bogey, but encountered difficulty at the 18th where he made another bogey after finding the sand. Big names struggled with Rory McIlroy , ranked second, faced difficulties as he recorded bogeys on three of his final five holes, finishing with a 74 and a total of 220. The Northern Irish golfer, who achieved a career Grand Slam with his Masters victory for his fifth major championship, struggled throughout. World number one Scottie Scheffler , aiming to secure consecutive major championships following his victory at last month's PGA Championship, posted a 70. His round included four birdies and four bogeys, with a notable five-foot birdie putt at the seventeenth hole, placing him at 214 after three rounds.
Economic Times
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Economic Times
Sam Burns seizes third round US Open lead with Adam Scott and JJ Spaun one back
AP Sam Burns reacts to his chip shot onto the 17th green during the third round of the US Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Sam Burns grabbed a one-stroke advantage by scoring one-under-par 69, leading ahead of JJ Spaun and Adam Scott after Saturday's third round at the US who clinched victory at the 2023 WGC Match Play, maintained four-under 206 after 54 holes at Oakmont Country Club. Spaun, with his sole PGA Tour victory at the 2022 Texas Open, recorded 69 with a bogey at the 18th hole to share the second position at 207. Scott, who won the Masters in 2013, secured three birdies in the final six holes to score 67 and reach 207, positioning himself two strokes ahead of Viktor Hovland from Norway in fourth place. The quartet will compete in the final two groups on Sunday for the championship round, vying for the $4.3 million winner's purse. Burns and Spaun, who played together in the last group, exchanged the lead throughout the day. Their intense early competition concluded when Burns scored a close-range birdie at the fifth hole to equal Spaun at seized the outright lead at four-under by making a seven-foot birdie putt on the par-three 13th hole, but later dropped a shot with a bogey at the duo each scored birdies on the 17th, with Burns placing his approach shot extremely close to the hole while Spaun successfully holed a putt from nearly 14 feet the final hole, both players' tee shots found the right rough. Burns managed to reach the green, whereas Spaun's ball landed in a Spaun's bunker shot and subsequent two putts resulted in a bogey, Burns clinched the solo lead by converting a four-foot putt foScott, 44, can become the second-oldest US Open champion, following American Hale Irwin who clinched victory at 45 in demonstrated precision by placing his tee shot within five feet of the par-three 13th hole and followed it with an exceptional approach shot at the 14th that stopped inches from the cup, resulting in birdies. He successfully managed a bunker shot at the 17th and converted a 14-foot putt for recovered from a bunker at the 17th hole, settling for a straightforward bogey, but encountered difficulty at the 18th where he made another bogey after finding the sand. Big names struggled with Rory McIlroy, ranked second, faced difficulties as he recorded bogeys on three of his final five holes, finishing with a 74 and a total of 220. The Northern Irish golfer, who achieved a career Grand Slam with his Masters victory for his fifth major championship, struggled throughout. World number one Scottie Scheffler, aiming to secure consecutive major championships following his victory at last month's PGA Championship, posted a 70. His round included four birdies and four bogeys, with a notable five-foot birdie putt at the seventeenth hole, placing him at 214 after three rounds.
RTHK
3 hours ago
- Sport
- RTHK
Sam Burns maintains lead after US Open third round
Sam Burns maintains lead after US Open third round Sam Burns reacts after putting on the 18th green during the third round of the US Open golf tournament. Photo: Reuters/Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Sam Burns fired a one-under-par 69 to seize a one-stroke lead over fellow American J.J. Spaun and Australian Adam Scott after Saturday's third round of the US Open. Burns, whose most recent win came at the 2023 WGC Match Play, stood on four-under 206 after 54 holes while Spaun, whose only PGA Tour win came at the 2022 Texas Open, shot 69 with a bogey at 18 to share second on 207. Scott, the 2013 Masters champion, birdied three of the last six holes to fire a 67 and reach 207, two strokes ahead of Norway's Viktor Hovland in fourth. The four will play in the last two pairings once again on Sunday in a tension-packed final round for the US$4.3 million top prize. Last-group playing partners Burns and Spaun traded the lead all day, a wild early exchange ending when Burns made a tap-in birdie at the fifth to match Spaun at three-under. Burns sank a seven-foot birdie putt at the par-three 13th to seize the solo lead at four-under but fell back with a bogey at 16. Both birdied the 17th, Burns landing his approach inches from the hole and Spaun sinking a putt from just inside 14 feet. At 18, both went into the right rough but Burns reached the green while Spaun found a bunker. Spaun blasted out and two-putted for bogey while Burns sank a four-foot par putt to grab the solo lead. Scott, 44, can be the second-oldest US Open winner after American Hale Irwin, who was 45 when he won in 1990. Scott landed his tee shot inside five feet at the par-three 13th and dropped his approach inches from the hole at 14 to set up birdies, then escaped a bunker at 17 and sank a 14-foot birdie putt. Hovland blasted out of a bunker to set up a tap-in bogey at 17, but made bogey from a bunker at 18. Mexico's Carlos Ortiz fired a 67 to stand fifth on level par 210, a stumble at the last hole dooming a bogey-free bid. Ortiz, a LIV Golf player who won an Asian Tour event in Macau in March, made the cut for only the third time in 10 major starts and has never finished a major in the top 50. "It would be great. Winning any kind of tournament is awesome," Ortiz said of capturing the title. "I'm just going to do my best and hopefully that's enough. If not, that's all I had." England's Tyrrell Hatton, another LIV player, birdied three of the first four holes on the back nine and shot 68 to stand on 211, sharing sixth with South African Thriston Lawrence. Big names struggled with world number two Rory McIlroy making bogeys on three of his last five holes to fire a 74 and stand on 220. "I was hoping to play better, but I didn't," McIlroy said, calling his tournament "pretty average" so far. "The name of the game this week is staying patient," McIlroy said. "But it's one of those golf courses that you can lose patience on pretty quickly." Northern Ireland's McIlroy, who completed a career Grand Slam by winning the Masters for his fifth major title, had bogeys on the third and ninth holes, followed a birdie at 10 with bogeys at 11, 14 and 16 and closed birdie-bogey. Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler, seeking back-to-back major titles after taking last month's PGA Championship, fired a 70 with four birdies and four bogeys, sinking a five-foot birdie putt at 17 to stand on 214 after 54 holes. "I had a hard time getting momentum," Scheffler said. "I made a few silly mistakes, a couple three-putts, which is just a killer." Two-time major winner Jon Rahm of Spain made a double bogey at 15 and found a bunker on his way to a bogey at 18 to fire a 73 and stand on 217. Third-ranked American Xander Schauffele, the reigning British Open champion, shot 71 to stand on 217. (AFP)
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Burns grabs US Open lead with Scott and Spaun one back
Sam Burns fired a one-under-par 69 to seize a one-stroke lead over fellow American J.J. Spaun and Australian Adam Scott after Saturday's third round of the US Open. Burns, whose most recent win came at the 2023 WGC Match Play, stood on four-under 206 after 54 holes while Spaun, whose only PGA Tour win came at the 2022 Texas Open, shot 69 with a bogey at 18 to share second on 207. Scott, the 2013 Masters champion, birdied three of the last six holes to fire a 67 and reach 207, two strokes ahead of Norway's Viktor Hovland in fourth. The four will play in the last two pairings once again on Sunday in a tension-packed final round for the $4.3 million top prize. Last-group playing partners Burns and Spaun traded the lead all day, a wild early exchange ending when Burns made a tap-in birdie at the fifth to match Spaun at three-under. Burns sank a seven-foot birdie putt at the par-three 13th to seize the solo lead at four-under but fell back with a bogey at 16. Both birdied the 17th, Burns landing his approach inches from the hole and Spaun sinking a putt from just inside 14 feet. At 18, both went into the right rough but Burns reached the green while Spaun found a bunker. Spaun blasted out and two-putted for bogey while Burns sank a four-foot par putt to grab the solo lead. Scott, 44, can be the second-oldest US Open winner after American Hale Irwin, who was 45 when he won in 1990. Scott landed his tee shot inside five feet at the par-three 13th and dropped his approach inches from the hole at 14 to set up birdies, then escaped a bunker at 17 and sank a 14-foot birdie putt. Hovland blasted out of a bunker to set up a tap-in bogey at 17, but made bogey from a bunker at 18. Mexico's Carlos Ortiz fired a 67 to stand fifth on level par 210, a stumble at the last hole dooming a bogey-free bid. Ortiz, a LIV Golf player who won an Asian Tour event in Macau in March, made the cut for only the third time in 10 major starts and has never finished a major in the top 50. "It would be great. Winning any kind of tournament is awesome," Ortiz said of capturing the title. "I'm just going to do my best and hopefully that's enough. If not, that's all I had." England's Tyrrell Hatton, another LIV player, birdied three of the first four holes on the back nine and shot 68 to stand on 211, sharing sixth with South African Thriston Lawrence. Big names struggled with world number two Rory McIlroy making bogeys on three of his last five holes to fire a 74 and stand on 220. "I was hoping to play better, but I didn't," McIlroy said, calling his tournament "pretty average" so far. "The name of the game this week is staying patient," McIlroy said. "But it's one of those golf courses that you can lose patience on pretty quickly." Northern Ireland's McIlroy, who completed a career Grand Slam by winning the Masters for his fifth major title, had bogeys on the third and ninth holes, followed a birdie at 10 with bogeys at 11, 14 and 16 and closed birdie-bogey. Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler, seeking back-to-back major titles after taking last month's PGA Championship, fired a 70 with four birdies and four bogeys, sinking a five-foot birdie putt at 17 to stand on 214 after 54 holes. "I had a hard time getting momentum," Scheffler said. "I made a few silly mistakes, a couple three-putts, which is just a killer." Two-time major winner Jon Rahm of Spain made a double bogey at 15 and found a bunker on his way to a bogey at 18 to fire a 73 and stand on 217. Third-ranked American Xander Schauffele, the reigning British Open champion, shot 71 to stand on 217. js/rcw
