In an exciting turn of events during the third round at TPC Southwind, Tommy Fleetwood faced a challenging moment on the par-5 3rd hole. After hitting a fairway wood, his approach fell short, landing in the water. Following a drop, Fleetwood found himself in a bunker, ultimately leading to a double bogey 7. This mishap dropped him back to -12, narrowing his lead to just one stroke over Justin Rose, who showcased resilience by making a birdie after going long of the green. This unexpected three-shot swing has intensified the competition, offering hope to players trailing Fleetwood.
The double bogey by Fleetwood has invigorated the chase group, with players like Scottie Scheffler now sitting at -8 early in his third round. As the final group commenced their round with three pars on the 1st, Fleetwood maintained a three-stroke lead over Rose, with Collin Morikawa, Akshay Bhatia, and the in-form Chris Kirk closely behind at 9 under. Kirk has been particularly impressive, starting his round with birdie-birdie-eagle, propelling him into contention and improving his position in the FedEx Cup standings.
As the tournament progresses, the battle for a spot in the BMW Championship next week becomes increasingly significant. The chase for the top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings adds an extra layer of excitement to the weekend. Jordan Spieth, who began the day at 50th, has slipped to 53rd after struggling on the back nine, including two water hazards on par-3 holes. His performance needs to improve drastically if he hopes to re-enter the top 50 by the end of the tournament.
Despite the increasing wind and challenging conditions at TPC Southwind, Matt Fitzpatrick emerged as the standout player early in the third round. He became the only player to finish more than 1 under for the round within the first hour of play, currently at -3 through 4 holes. Fitzpatrick's strong performance has elevated him 16 spots on the leaderboard to T15 at 5 under, positioning him firmly within the top 40 of the FedEx Cup standings and keeping his hopes alive for a spot in the Tour Championship.
As the second round concluded, the tournament quickly transitioned into the third round at TPC Southwind. Players such as Emiliano Grillo, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Taylor Pendrith kicked off their rounds early in the day. Meanwhile, Fleetwood, Rose, and Morikawa are set to tee off in the final group at 12:52 p.m. ET, eager to reclaim their rhythm and maintain their positions as they navigate the challenging course.
Earlier in the tournament, Justin Rose demonstrated his skills by finishing his second round with a birdie-par, resulting in a total score of 66. His strong finish propelled him to 10 under, only three strokes behind Fleetwood. As part of the final group, Rose aims to capitalize on any mistakes made by Fleetwood and secure his position as the leading contender for the championship.
