Johnson and Walker in the hunt ahead of Byron final round
Australian and relatively unknown Steven Bowditch leads at Byron Nelson by two strokes ahead of the final round at a heavily rain affected Four Season Resort in Irving, Texas.
The 31-year old leads a clutch of much higher profile players, including recent winners Dustin Johnson and Jimmy Walker, at 13-under par for the tournament.
In contrast, Bowditch currently has only won once on the PGA Tour, his first win coming at the 2014 Valero Open.
“My mindset is not really going to change,” said Bowditch. “I’m just going to go out there and play how I think the golf course will be played, the way it sort of suits my eye with the drivers and the 3-woods and, you know, I don’t think I’ll play it much different than anyone else.
“You got to stick to your game plan and hopefully come that back-9 you’re there or thereabouts and see what happens.
“Have some fun.
“I keep going at it, keep attacking pins and hopefully try to roll in some putts tomorrow.”
Walker will be looking to take his second Texas trophy this year with Bowditch holding such a slender advantage at the end of day three’s play.
“I made my fair share of birdies this week and I need to have some tomorrow. I missed a couple points,” said Walker.
“I hit it pretty good all day for the most part. Just missed a couple putts I should have made and I really wish I could have holed those and we’d be two, three shots better.
“I’m not going to leave anything on the table,” insisted the recent Valero Open winner. “I would love to have the trophy in Dallas. That would be cool.”
Recent Masters champion Jordan Spieth had a mixed round, that including an ace at the par-3 17th hole. He currently sits tied-18th at -7.
“I told Michael ahead of time, “Michael, let’s make this one, be really cool.” In the air once it landed I knew it was going to pitch around the right distance.
“Just luck if it goes in. I’ve never spun a 9-iron back that much in my life downwind.
“Just shows how soft the greens are. When I was walking up there I was a little upset it wasn’t a tap-in. It was a really cool shot. Fun to hit.
“Crowd went crazy.
“Wish I would have been able to make the putt there but maybe tomorrow.”
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