Austin Cook holds three-shot lead entering Sunday at The RSM Classic

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — This is Austin Cook’s first season as a PGA TOUR member, but the 54-hole leader at The RSM Classic has found himself in a similar situation before. Cook, 26, will take a three-shot into the final round at Sea Island Golf Club. It will be the biggest day of his career. It won’t be the first time he’s played in the final group on the PGA TOUR, though. He also played among the leaders two years ago, back when he was trying to beat the odds as a non-member who relied on Monday qualifiers and sponsor exemptions for starts. Those experiences will help him Sunday as he seeks his first PGA TOUR win. “Back then my game was good as well, but mentally I’ve grown a lot and matured a lot and been able to kind of just let small things on the golf course roll off my shoulder instead of getting tied up in one little small mistake,â€� Cook said. After qualifying for the 2015 Houston Open, Cook made a Cinderella run into Saturday’s final group alongside Phil Mickelson. Cook arrived on the first tee with a stand bag carried by his brother, wearing the rain gear from his college days at the University of Arkansas. Cook stared down Mickelson, 70-75, to start the Houston Open’s final round in second place. His unlikely run ended Sunday, though, as he shot 75 to drop to 11th. Two months later, Cook again started the third round in second place, but shot consecutive over-par rounds at the FedEx St. Jude Classic to drop to 22nd. Those were two of the five top-25s Cook had on the PGA TOUR in 2015 despite not having any status. He played the Web.com Tour in 2016 and 2017 before earning his first TOUR card. “I think with an extra year on the Web.com Tour this past year, I really grew mentally and with my game, just kind of got more confidence,â€� he said. “I was able to put myself in contention on the Web.com more this year than I have in the past. I think I’ve just learned from experiences on the Web to help me grow out here.â€� His mental game may be improved but he’s also been near-flawless with the physical aspects of his game this week. Through three rounds, he’s missed just six fairways and seven greens. Sea Island’s Seaside Course doesn’t require power, but it rewards precision. It measures just 7,005 yards. That’s perfect for Cook, who can be compared to two-time TOUR winner Kevin Kisner as a player known for laser-like accuracy. It’s no coincidence that Kisner holds the 72-hole scoring record at this event; he shot 22 under par to win the 2015 edition of this tournament. Cook can tie Kisner’s mark with a 4-under 66 on Sunday. He admits that holding back the nerves will be the hardest part as he tries to become the second consecutive first-year player to close the fall with a win at Sea Island. “I know today it was a lot of deep breaths, a lot of trying to calm the nerves, just stay in the moment, let the anxiety go away,â€� Cook said. “I think even tomorrow it will be a little bit higher on Sunday, so just trying to stay in the moment and just not really think about the possibility of what could happen.â€� OBSERVATIONS EXPERIENCE LURKS: Cook may have a three-shot lead, but he’s being trailed by players who have experience on their side. The two players accompanying him in the final group, Chris Kirk and Brian Gay, each own four PGA TOUR titles. One of Kirk’s victories came at this event in 2013. Kisner, the 2015 champ, is in fifth place, six shots off the lead. The only players in the top five without a victory are Cook and J.J. Spaun (fourth). WOO PIG SOOEY: It’s been a tough season for the Arkansas Razorbacks on the gridiron. Not on the golf course. Three former Razorbacks graduated from the Web.com Tour this year, and two of them are in the top 10 at Sea Island. Cook is leading, while Andrew Landry is tied for sixth. Landry, who played in the final group of the 2016 U.S. Open, is seven shots behind his fellow Arkansas alum. Landry is seeking his second top-10 of the season. He also finished T7 in the season-opening Safeway Open. Ethan Tracy, the third Razorback to earn a PGA TOUR card this season, missed the cut at Sea Island. Tracy, Landry and PGA TOUR winner David Lingmerth were teammates on the 2009 Arkansas team that was runner-up in the NCAA Championship.  NOTABLES Brandt Snedeker — The former FedExCup champ shot 70 on Saturday to drop from sixth place to T25.  This is Snedeker’s first PGA TOUR start since June as he’s been sidelined with a sternum joint injury. He made two birdies and two bogeys Saturday after opening with consecutive 67s. Zach Johnson — The longtime Sea Island resident has more missed cuts (3) than top 25s (2) in his hometown event. He’s never finished in the top 10 in seven RSM starts. That could change this year, though. He’s T8 after shooting 64 on Saturday, his lowest career round at this event. Patton Kizzire — The FedExCup leader is T33 after shooting 70 on Saturday. He is still projected to end the fall portion of the PGA TOUR schedule in first place in the season-long race. Kizzire has a win and two other top-10s this fall. Braden Thornberry — A day after firing 64 on the Seaside Course, the reigning NCAA champion fired 69. He will enter the final round in 33rd place. Thornberry, a junior at Mississippi, is No. 2 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. QUOTABLES “I’ll bet I’ve got 300‑plus rounds in on Seaside, so I’m not saying that will make me do any better, but at least I’ll know what to expect.â€� – Former Sea Island resident Chris Kirk, who will start the final round in second place, three shots off the lead “Just go home … and just have a good home‑cooked meal and just kind of enjoy the time and embrace the moment..â€� – Third-round leader Austin Cook on his Saturday evening plans SUPERLATIVES Low round: 62 by J.J. Spaun. It was the low round of the day by two shots and vaulted Spaun into fourth place, five shots behind Cook. Longest drive: Andrew Landry hit one 336 yards into the native area right of the 14th fairway. He hit his 93-yard approach shot to 22 feet and two-putted for par. Longest putt: Johnson Wagner holed a birdie putt from 46 feet, 1 inch on the par-3 third hole as part of his bogey-free 67. He also holed a 33-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole. Easiest hole: The 569-yard, par-5 seventh hole was the day’s easiest hole, playing to an average score of 4.603. Hardest hole: The 458-yard, par-4 ninth hole was the hardest hole of the day, playing to a 4.1 scoring average. That didn’t stop Austin Cook. He made one of four birdies on the hole Saturday. CALL OF THE DAY SHOT OF THE DAY BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Click here to read the full article…