Three consecutive 66s has put South Africa’s Branden Grace one shot off the pace heading into the final round of the Charles Schwab Challenge.
Grace founds himself in the chasing pack as one of five players on 12 under par and a single stroke behind solo leader Xander Schauffele at Colonial Country Club. It was just reward after yet another composed day out in Fort Worth where he made up 1.8 shots on the field with his putter.
The 2020 South African Open winner now founds himself in the mix and looking for his second win on US soil after some excellent work on and around the greens.
He is joined by American quartet Gary Woodland, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa and Jordan Spieth chasing the former Rookie of the Year at the top.
On Saturday, Grace accumulated a total of six birdies but suffered drop shots on 7 and 11 to halt his march. He offset those losses with birdies at 12, 14 and 17 – this after his approach from 150 yards settled in to just six feet – to keep his name in the hunt.
‘Yeah, I feel great, ‘ he said through 54 holes.
‘I didn’t really have any expectations coming into the week. Didn’t really do a hell of a lot before this, and you know, you kind of feel that you want to find something.
‘I feel the ball-striking has improved every day. The putting has been great the whole week so far, and if I can come tomorrow, maybe hit a few more fairways and get myself the chances, I feel I’m going to make some putts. If I can do that, I’ll be there or thereabouts.’
Sunday’s finale will come without loud roars or gasps with players still getting to grips with tournament golf played without galleries.
‘You know, definitely the crowds make a big difference. Normally when there’s a little bit more nerves on the first tee and the first green and things like that, you definitely feed off it,’ said Grace.
‘This week I’ve felt a little bit less. But we’re also here to win a golf tournament; whether there’s 40,000 people or four people watching, it doesn’t really make a difference. But yeah, it would have been nice to have everybody out here and supporting. It has given it a different vibe, but we’re still trying to win a golf tournament. I feel that tomorrow you’re still going to get the same adrenaline flowing through the veins and you’re going to want to win, so I’m going to go after it.’
SA’s top-ranked player Louis Oosthuizen, the only other South African in action after Friday’s cut, finished his third round on three under par after his third consecutive 69.
After an impressive 63 on Friday, World No 1 Rory McIlroy matched Oosthuizen’s 69 and will head into Sunday’s action just three back.
