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JERSEY CITY, NJ – Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith were tied for the lead on Saturday in The Northern Trust, and neither could have imagined how they got there.
Smith had never shot better than 62 – twice this year on the PGA Tour, once at his home club in Brisbane, Australia – when he stood over a 12-foot putt on the 18th hole at Liberty National for a chance in the 13th under- 60 rounds on the PGA Tour.
He missed and had to settle for the course record at 11 under 60, and figured that would at least keep him within reach of the world No.1 player.
“Jon is playing pretty well right now so we have to try to catch up,” said Smith.
Thanks to Rahm, he did it.
The US Open champion birdied four in a six-hole streak around the turn to regain the lead and had a good chance of scoring ahead of him. But he hit the water twice on the easiest second and third holes, dropped three combined hits and had to rally for a 67.
They were under 197 and now have a day off from Hurricane Henri. The PGA Tour watched the path, and there was enough rain and dangerous wind around the edges of the storm that they decided to shut down Liberty National on Sunday. The last round will take place on Monday.
With even the possibility of more rain and more golf, Rahm wanted the 54-hole lead. At worst, he was determined not to fall behind.
“I didn’t want to leave it to chance,” he said.
Rahm didn’t find too much of a problem with his game. He thought his 4 iron in the 13th par-5 was flush and started to move forward, waiting for the ball to hit the green. He noticed that his cart was not moving.
“It was a bit higher than I expected and it looks like the wind may have picked up a bit,” said Rahm. “It sounded like that short cover film, so it’s one of those things that happens in golf.”
He received a penalty, fired his next shot through the thick grass of an embankment and made a double bogey.
Rahm was just to the left of the accessible 16th par-4 in what he thought was a sweet lie. The idea was to give yourself a chance at the birdie and make the par at worst. But he came out hot, rolled over the green and into the water, and drove into a bogey.
Rahm and Smith were one step ahead of Erik van Rooyen of South Africa, who birdied 10 for a 62, one of four laps at 62 or less.
Justin Thomas (67) and Tony Finau (68) were three strokes behind. Shane Lowry and Corey Conners each shot 62 and stayed in the mix.
The average score in the third round was 68.3
Smith started about three hours before the leaders and started with five birdies over six holes, one of many good starts. The Australian, however, continued. He landed his eighth birdie on the 13th, approached one foot of a hole-in-one on the 14th and started to think 59.
Smith narrowly missed an eagle putt on the 16th, hit a steep corner on the 17th to reach 11 under for the round and was birdie of the 13th round under-60 of the PGA Tour. His approach to the 18th settled 12 feet to the right of the flag.
“I just didn’t do it,” Smith said.
Rahm made a superb par save over the 14th green, hitting it close for a short birdie on the 15th to regain some of the lead. And after his bogey on the 16th, he responded with another birdie on the 17th hole.
And now a day of rest through. This is not the worst-case scenario for Smith, knowing that it is difficult to come back the next day from a record-breaking score and try to match it. Not the worst for those staying across the Hudson River in Manhattan.
“There are the worst cities to be stuck in,” Lowry said. “I’m sure I’ll find something to do.”
Additionally, Rahm said he spoke from experience of having limited activity with nowhere to go.
“If the COVID quarantine has taught us anything, it’s what to do all day locked in a room,” he said.
Thomas was among several players making a move that stopped in their tracks. He started the last nine with three birdies in four holes, only to move away from the 14th par-3 in danger and make a double bogey. Even so, he’s really in the mix.
Harold Varner III made his blunder at the worst time. Poor practice on the 18th was followed by a blocked approach over the wall and into danger. He made a triple bogey, had to settle for a 68 and went to a header for a tie for ninth, four strokes behind.
Varner is still in good shape to be among the top 70 in the FedEx Cup who will qualify for next week. More pressure is on Tom Hoge (No. 108) and Keith Mitchell (No. 101), who must finish somewhere in the top 10 to continue their seasons.
Hoge shot 67 and was tied for sixth with Lowry and Viktor Hovland (65), three shots behind. Mitchell took a triple bogey with poor practice on the 10th. He was tied for 11th, five behind.
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