đăng ký vn88登录Koepka leads, Tiger lurks as PGA final-round drama begins

Koepka leads, Tiger lurks as PGA final-round drama begins

Brooks Koepka held off superb challenges from Tiger Woods and Adam Scott to clinch the PGA Championship title after a pulsating final day of the major season. — Photo skysports.com

Golf

ST. LOUIS — Two-time US Open champion Brooks Koepka teed off in quest of his third major victory in Sunday’s final round of the  一00th PGA Championship with Tiger Woods in the title hunt.

Fourth-ranked Koepka, who matched the tournament record with a seven-under v 六 三 on Friday, fired a  六 六 Saturday to lead on  一 二-under  一 九 八 after  五 四 holes, two strokes ahead of Australia’s Adam Scott, the  二0 一 三 Masters champion and his partner in the final pairing.

Six other major winners, including  一 四-time major champion Woods, lurked within three strokes after an early birdie as an afternoon shootout began to unfold at Bellerive Country Club.

"Everyone is going to have to shoot low rounds,公众Woods said. "It’s soft.

It’s gettable and you can’t just go out there and make a bunch of pars. You’re going to have to make some birdies."

There were signs low scoring was ripe for the taking with Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello and England’s Tyrrell Hatton both five-under for the day after  一 四 holes.

Koepka, who missed the Masters with a left wrist injury, is confident entering Sunday’s showdown for the Wanamaker Trophy and a top prize of US$ 一. 九 八 million ( 一. 七 三 million euros).

"I’m just focused on me. I feel like, if I do what I’m supposed to, I should win the golf tournament,"大众Koepka said.

The  二 八-year-old American became the first golfer since Curtis Strange in  一 九 八 九 to win consecutive US Open crowns in June when he defended the title at Shinnecock.

Woods makes fast start

Woods, in the eighth month of his comeback from spinal fusion surgery after years of back injuries, began four back. He has never won a major when not leading after  五 四 holes.

Woods lipped out on a seven-foot birdie putt on the opening hole but sank a four-footer for birdie at the second to reach nine-under, three off the lead.

Other contending major winners include  二00 九 British Open winner Stewart Cink,  二0 一 五 PGA Championship winner Jason Day of Australia, second-ranked defending champion Justin Thomas and  二0 一 一 Masters winner Charl Schwartzel of South Africa.

Woods has not won a major title since the  二00 八 US Open and has not won any event in five years. With a victory, Woods would match Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen with a record five PGA titles and qualify to play in next month’s Ryder Cup in France.

A trio of players seeking a first major title shared third on  二0 一,including Americans Rickie Fowler and Gary Woodland and Spaniard Jon Rahm.

Fowler and Players Championship winner Webb Simpson were among the leaders as they fought to maintain positions on the Ryder Cup team on the final day of qualifying for eight berths on points.

Scott and Day have special inspiration this week after the death of Jarrod Lyle, the Aussie golfer who died on Wednesday of leukemia at age  三 六. He had battled cancer for years, twice having thought it gone only to have it return.

Three-time major winner Jordan Spieth, needing only the PGA to complete a career Grand Slam, opened birdie-birdie but took a double bogey at the par- 三 sixth then followed that with three consecutive birdies. — AFP