Russell Henley stays flawless at the 2022 World Wide Technology Championship, having now gone bogey-free over the primary 54 holes to (as soon as once more) set an occasion record tempo at 22 beneath. Good for a six-stroke lead, the Georgia Bulldog will look to maintain his foot on the fuel tomorrow and switch this runaway effort at Mayakoba into his fourth profession victory on the PGA Tour.
Beginning the third spherical with a three-stroke lead, Henley was cool, calm and picked up from the beginning as he tacked on a birdie on his opening gap to increase his in a single day margin. Losing his tee shot on the next gap, the 33-year-old was in a position to rise up and down after a penalty stroke to take care of his bogey-free streak and preserve his closest pursuers at bay.Â
Three extra birdies over a four-hole stretch on his entrance aspect helped Henley attain 20 beneath by the point he made the flip. With two extra par breakers on his inward half, together with one from distance on the par-3 fifteenth, Henley has now signed for rounds of 63-63-65 round El Camaleon Golf Club and doubled his 36-hole lead heading into the ultimate spherical.
First-round chief Will Gordon stays Henley’s closest competitors at 16 beneath as the previous Vanderbilt standout continues to shine in his return to the PGA Tour. Fellow SEC alums in want of an enormous ultimate day to chase down Henley embody Auburn’s Patton Kizzire at 16 beneath and fellow Georgia Bulldogs Brian Harman at 14 beneath and Greyson Sigg at 13 beneath.
The chief
1. Russell Henley (-22)
There just isn’t way more to say with regards to what Henley is doing. Commanding the most important 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour since Billy Horschel’s five-stroke edge at the Memorial, Henley has been on cruise management ever for the reason that first tee shot on Thursday.Â
He has bested the earlier low 54-hole complete on the PGA Tour this season by three strokes thanks partially to his regular driving and spectacular iron play. At 22 beneath, he sits one off Viktor Hovland’s successful rating from final 12 months’s occasion — a event record with a excessive probability to be damaged tomorrow.
Other contenders
T2. Will Gordon, Patton Kizzire (-16)
4. Seamus Power (-15)
T5. Troy Merritt, Brian Harman (-14)
T7. Viktor Hovland, Greyson Sigg, Matthias Schwab, Thomas Detry (-13)
Not many gamers have had a greater begin to the 2022-23 season than Detry because the Belgian entered the marketing campaign with out full-time standing. Already locking up his card courtesy of a runner-up end at the Bermuda Championship and two extra top-15 efforts, Detry is on the trajectory of not solely changing into a mainstay on the PGA Tour, however probably taking part in his means onto the European Ryder Cup Team in Rome subsequent fall. While nonetheless methods away, the autumn swing has been a revelation for the DP World Tour staple and captain Luke Donald has absolutely taken discover.
“I wouldn’t say more aggressive, but certainly more freely really,” mentioned Detry of securing his PGA Tour card. “I felt no pressure at all today. I’m in contention and I was just cruising out there, I was putting well. I actually didn’t hit the ball — it wasn’t really my best ball-striking day so I’m going to do a little bit of work on the range. But I putted really well. I managed to hole some good ones for par and made some good ones for birdie as well.”
Aces are wild
As if one ace wasn’t sufficient, how about two extra. After Brian Harman kicked the occasion off on Friday on the par-3 4th, each Greyson Sigg and Seamus Power joined him within the celebrations on Saturday. The Irishman who received final week at the 2022 Bermuda Championship added one other hole-out simply three holes later and finds his identify on the primary web page of the leaderboard because of a stellar third spherical.
“On eight, the hole-in-one, I think it was 138, it was 6 or 8 and it was a very similar number and a very similar wind to the first round, so I knew it was going to be spot on for a club,” mentioned Power. “I hit it to maybe four feet on Thursday, very same numbers, very same winds, so I hit the same shot and obviously landed a foot long left and spun back in.”Â
Hovland’s three-peat bid prone to come up quick
Looking to affix Steve Stricker, Tiger Woods and Stuart Appleby as the one males since 1980 to win an occasion three years in a row, Hovland’s effort this week will seemingly come up simply quick. At 13 beneath, he has carded three straight rounds within the 60s — and 12 consecutive at El Camaleon total — however isn’t any match for what Henley is doing.
“It was a lot of good stuff today. Overall like I’m playing really consistent, but missing way too many putts even though I did make some putts today,” mentioned Hovland. “Just missing way too many putts today and yesterday. At least it’s nice to feel like the ball-striking’s back to where it should be and I feel like I can take it low tomorrow.”
2022 Mayakoba up to date odds and picks
Odds through Caesars Sportsbook
- Russell Henley: 17/100
- Will Gordon: 18-1
- Seamus Power: 25-1
- Patton Kizzire: 25-1
- Brian Harman: 50-1
- Viktor Hovland: 55-1
Sometimes, it’s wonderful to take a seat out the ultimate spherical of a PGA Tour occasion, and this can be the case for Sunday. Henley ought to have the ability to seal the deal, nevertheless, at 17/100 (-588), the juice will not be definitely worth the squeeze figuring out his observe record of final-round meltdowns. Hardly going out on a limb suggesting he’ll win, the smart possibility could also be to take a seat again, calm down and easily benefit from the golf with none cash tied up.