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Here are nine tidbits from the third round of the Sony Open at Waialae Country Club (par 70, 7,044 yards) in Honolulu that gamers can use tomorrow, this weekend or down the road. Be looking for the Emergency 9 shortly after the close of play of each round of the tournament. Tom Cruising After 65-64-64 and 16-under-par, Tom Hoge looks like he’s on cruise control. Don’t tell him that six of the seven closest players on the leaderboard have already done what he’s trying to do for the first time tomorrow: win. History is not on his side as only Jerry Kelly and Russell Henley have made the Sony Open their maiden victories on TOUR since 2000. He’ll have some confident players breathing down his neck and I’m interested to see how he reacts. Patton Marching Hoge’s Friday-Saturday total of 129 is impressive but Patton Kizzire is one shot better. One shot is all that separates the OHL Classic winner from the fella trying to close his first deal. Kizzire had to face and beat Rickie Fowler at Riviera Maya for his first TOUR win so he’ll be up for the fight tomorrow. For Hoge, his strength has been approaching the green (first) while Kizzire has putted the greens best. He’s made 21 birdies through 54 holes, the most on the week. Moving Day Movers The low round of the day went to Webb Simpson as his 63 moved him up 39 spots to T9. Simpson has now made nine consecutive cuts at Waialae but he’s never finished better than T9…Chez Reavie has taken multiple swings at Waialae and finally figured out how to hit the top 10 as he closed with 61 (T8) last year. His 65 Saturday moved him up 27 spots to T21 and another low one on Sunday might see him sneak in the back door again…Austin Cook also carded 65 on Saturday and moved up 35 spots to T28. Moving Day Shakers Gamers riding Hudson Swafford after his 66 on Friday saw a vicious swing as his 73 today dropped him 42 spots to T59…One of the most popular picks in PGA TOUR Fantasy One & Done presented by SERVPRO and PGA TOUR Fantasy One & Done presented by SERVPRO, Marc Leishman’s 71 saw him plummet 33 spots to T50. Last week Leishman struggled on Saturday as well before rallying on Sunday to hit the top 10. Breathe people!…A couple of players on Major Medical Exemptions caught my eye yesterday as John Peterson and Ryan Palmer both shot 64. Peterson began the day T2 and wound up T40 after 74 while Palmer’s 71 knocked him out of the top 20 to T56. This is all part of getting back into TOUR shape and hardly a surprise. Crack the Back Door Yesterday on the telecast those who were watching heard Jordan Spieth voice his displeasure as he lamented his two weeks of poor putting. He’s not wrong as he checks in at No. 63 in SG: Putting after three rounds. His ball-striking has kept him alive this week and is currently T28 after his best round in three with 66. History buffs will point out he closed 63 last year and finished third. I’m leaving him on my bench tomorrow as I haven’t burned his start yet. I’d rather use him for an entire event and cash all four rounds of points rather than trying to catch another 63. Cameron’s Dollars Australian Cameron Smith keeps forcing himself into our world this winter so we should start paying attention. After kicking off the new TOUR season T5 at CIMB Classic followed by third at THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES, he went back to his native Australia to cash fourth at his national open while backing that up with winning the Australian PGA. This was his 10th round at Waialae and his ninth under par as his 66 moved him to eighth place. I Heart Rory It was revealed that Rory McIlroy has been dealing with a heart ailment that has hurt his preparation and tournament golf. In fantasy golf, knowledge is power and knowing why McIlroy wasn’t playing well is very helpful. His talent is unquestioned and Ben Everill’s article will help put season-long and weekly gamers at ease. I’m on board without question moving forward. Reality Bites This morning, the people of Hawaii were awoken by buzzing or ringing cell phones alerting them of a possible ballistic missile attack. While the message suggested THIS IS NOT A DRILL, thankfully for all involved, it was. It took 38 minutes to rectify the situation and confirm that there was NOT a missile attack heading toward the Hawaiian Islands. Talk about wake-up calls…Remember, professional golfers aren’t robots; they’re people with families and emotions like the rest of us. I bet they all are hoping for a “normal” day tomorrow. Everyone, minus perhaps Tom Hoge, should sleep well tonight. Study Hall Tony Finau racked up an ace this afternoon but his 67 moved him only to T40…Saturday had to be an incredibly tough day for Blayne Barber. He learned that his caddy and great friend was in the hospital after a fall on Friday night and we all know how Saturday morning started. Barber shot 72 and is currently T70…Ian Poulter tweeted that he’ll be playing Abu Dhabi, Dubai and then Waste Management Phoenix open in consecutive weeks to open his 2018 season…On this day in history in 1933, Augusta National Golf Club opened.
HONOLULU – Tom Hoge had never held a 54-hole lead on the PGA TOUR before Saturday but he has held the 36-hole lead – with Tiger Woods. Hoge’s third round 6-under 64 at Waialae Country Club, after opening 65-65, has him one clear at the top of a stacked leaderboard. Given Waialae often gives up multiple birdie chances, all 13 players within six shots of the lead would fancy their chances on Sunday. But Hoge starts in front. One clear of Patton Kizzire and Brian Harman. With Kyle Stanley (two back), Chris Kirk (three back) and Russell Knox and Ollie Schniederjans (four back) the nearest other challengers. All but Schniederjans are already PGA TOUR winners so he has his work cut out for him. Hoge will try to learn from his experience with Woods – back at the 2015 Wyndham Championship – where he was unable to keep pace amongst the heat of competition. Back then he shot a 2-over 72 when paired with Woods to drop to T21 and out of the mix. Woods shot 68 that day to remain in contention. (Ultimately Woods finished T10). “Looking back, I started the week 130th in the FedExCup so I needed to have a good day, and I didn’t play as well as I needed to on the weekend,â€� Hoge recalled of his round with Woods. “It’s all perspective in professional golf. To go through that environment and to play in that makes it easier for the next time.â€� He’s certainly a better player for it now. And one who has had more experience in the clutch. Like at the Web.com TOUR Championship last year when he needed to make a late charge to even get his TOUR card. He birdied seven of his last 12 holes to make it. “I started the day somewhere around 30th and I was like one over through seven holes or something. I was looking like it was going to be back to the Web.com,â€� he said. “Finally pulled off a few good shots to get things going. I got to the last hole, and I saw that I was probably out if I missed the putt, and I got a 15-footer and made it. “Events like that kind of go under the radar. I didn’t win the tournament, but to pull it off – it is a lot bigger playing for your job next year than winning a tournament sometimes.â€� Tomorrow he will try to secure the win and his job for at least another two years. CALL OF THE DAY OBSERVATIONS SPIETH TRUSTING PUTTING PROCESS: The ball just hasn’t been going in the hole for Jordan Spieth in Hawaii (short of a miracle 91-footer Friday) but he’s working hard at correcting his putting woes going forward. After needing 30 putts in Round 1 and 33 in Round 2, Spieth used the flatstick 31 times on Saturday during a 4-under 66. He made just 56 feet of putts in Round 3, the longest being 6 feet, 9 inches. As such he sits nine shots off the pace. “Stay patient, it’s a process. I’m getting back to the setup and comfort level that I had in 2015 and ’16 that went away a bit last year,â€� he explained. “I’m very pleased that Cameron (coach) did some unbelievable research and video recovery to figure out where things need adjustment to get back to being able to stroke it with freedom. It’s just going to take some rounds. I thought today was close, I just didn’t hit putts hard enough. Every single putt I missed, I missed low. So I’ve got to go out tomorrow and make that adjustment and take higher lines.â€� KIZZIRE CONTINUES CLUTCH SEASON: Patton Kizzire lost the FedExCup lead last week but the OHL Classic at Mayakoba champion wants it back. Now third on the list behind Pat Perez and Dustin Johnson, Kizzire can wrestle the top spot back easily given the other two are not in the field. He’s just 48 points off top spot. “The focus has started to move towards the FedExCup. Guys are really focusing on that and to get a leg up and kind of get a fast start,â€� Kizzire said. “I’m chasing that trophy. Everybody wants to be No. 1 at the end of the year and to play well coming down the stretch at the TOUR Championship. That’s a goal of mine, and I’m looking forward to that.â€� FINAU MAKES FIRST ACE: Tony Finau had made 10 holes-in-one in his life before Saturday but never one on the PGA TOUR. That changed on the par-3 17th hole at Waialae. His 8-iron from 179 yards was perfect. “I put some height on it because I knew that was the only way I was going to stop it on that green. I think most of the complaints on that green are because the ball doesn’t stop,â€� Finau said. “I just hit a perfect shot. The chances of that happening in a tournament is pretty cool. That was a special moment for me.â€� Finau still clearly remembers his first ace. “I was 9 years old – the Blue course at Doral on the 15th. I was playing a little Doral junior public links. Hit like an 8 iron from 115 yards and one-hopped in.â€� NOTABLES Justin Thomas – The defending champion shot a 4-under 66 to move to 10-under in a tie for ninth. “There’s a lot of birdie holes left. You can definitely go low out here, and I know that I can, but it’s just a matter of doing it. I’m glad that I’ve put myself in somewhat of a position to be in contention a little bit.â€� Brian Harman – The 36-hole leader sits just one shot off the pace after a solid 68. “Just a little looser today,â€� he said. “Missed a few tee shots and didn’t have as many chances as I wanted to. But I’ve got a feeling tomorrow is going to be all right.â€� Sam Saunders – Arnold Palmer’s grandson is an outside chance at a maiden PGA TOUR win after rounds of 67-67-66 have him T9 and six back. QUOTABLES I was like, if it’s my time, it’s my time.Part of you thinks get a Mai-Tai, go to the beach and get a front row seat.I was a little more uncomfortable today than I thought I would be. Hopefully, I’ll settle down a little bit tomorrow.I scored very nicely yesterday but just was kind of nervy. I just woke up this morning, and I was like why am I nervous? I mean, I just shot 64.It’s funny because I played a little bit, and then I got married on December 3rd. So a couple of weeks off and then I came back after that, and I didn’t feel like I knew which end of the club was right. SUPERLATIVES Low round: 7-under 63 – Webb Simpson made a move up to T9 with his round featuring an eagle, six birdies and just one bogey.  Longest drive: 369 yards – Justin Thomas on the par-4 14th. He made birdie.  Longest putt: 63 feet, 5 inches – Matt Jones on the par-4 12th for a birdie. Easiest hole: The par-5 ninth played at 4.368 with two eagles, 51 birdies, 20 pars, two bogeys and one other. Hardest hole: The par-3 11th played at 3.303 with seven birdies, 40 pars, 28 bogeys and 1 double bogey.
Defending champion Justin Thomas made a bit of a move on Saturday, but he still has a lot of work to do to get into contention in Hawaii.
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The first two games in the Divisional Round are in the books. On Saturday, the Philadelphia Eagles punched their ticket to the NFC Championship Game with a 15-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Later that evening, the Patriots beat up on the Titans and will head to their seventh straight AFC title game
