Koepka fires his highest PGA Championship score of the week, a 70, but maintains a 7-stroke lead
Koepka struggled with his putting. He 3-putted twice and left a few birdie attempts short of the hole but he was able to keep the 7-stroke margin that he began the day with.
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FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – Brooks Koepka struggled a bit with his putting Saturday but still managed to shoot an even-par 70 to maintain a 7-stroke lead after three rounds of the PGA Championship at Bethpage Black.
Koepka bogeyed three holes, two of them with 3-putt greens, and left a number of birdie attempts short. He carded three birdies on the day, the last one with a 17-foot putt at No. 13, and finished 54 holes at 12-under 198.
Koepka, who set the 36-hole scoring record for any major championship on Friday after rounds of 63 and 65, came up two strokes short of the PGA record for 54 holes, 196, by David Toms in 2001.
However, his 7-shot margin after three rounds was a PGA Championship record and he will enter Sunday’s competition seeking his fourth major championship in his last eight attempts.
Dustin Johnson, the No. 1-ranked player in the world, endured a roller-coaster round of six birdies and five bogeys for a 69 that left him in a four-way tie for second at 205. Harold Varner III, who is winless on the PGA Tour in his career, shot a 67 and will play in the final pairing on Sunday with Koepka.
Also at 205 were Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond (67) and Luke List (69).
Hideki Matsuyama fired a 68 and tied Matt Wallace, who had a 70, for sixth place at 206.
The two players who shared second place at the start of the round both struggled. Jordan Spieth, seeking to become the sixth player in golf history to compete the Grand Slam, fired a 72 and stood nine shots back at 207. Adam Scott also had a 72 for a 207 total.