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History beckons for big stars at The Open Championship

SANDWICH, England – Louis Oosthuizen took a deep breath after signing his scorecard and put on his best blank face before exiting the scoring area to face a myriad of media stops at The 149th Open. The South African is halfway to what would no doubt be an incredibly well-received second Open and major title after backing up a 64 with a second round 5-under 65 at Royal St. George’s – notching up a 36-hole record at 11-under 129. He knew what was coming. The same questions. Those bloody same questions about routinely being the groomsmen rather than the groom himself. Deep down it has to feel like nails on a chalkboard. But the pause – and collection of composure of thoughts – was certainly deliberate. Oosthuizen is a glass half full guy. Not half empty. And he knew he needed to just power through the commitments. Besides – if he’s hearing them again it means he’s playing well. It is no secret the 38-year-old has finished runner up in majors six times since his maiden major win at the 2010 Open Championship at St Andrews. This includes the PGA Championship from May and the U.S. Open in June this year. He has also been second at THE PLAYERS in the past. This time he is once again very well poised. But the names lining up right behind him are certainly nerve inducing. Oosthuizen has a two-shot lead over Collin Morikawa (64) and is three clear of 2017 Open champion Jordan Spieth (67). World No. 1 Dustin Johnson (65) is part of a three-way tie for fourth just four shots back. This won’t be handed to him no matter how much he deserves it. When the question about his “frustration” came as expected Oosthuizen went on the front foot. “It’s more inspiration I would say, knowing that I can still compete in majors. I just need to pull it through and see if I can go one better on this weekend,” he said. “The game is good, but I know it’s a really good leaderboard. I have to play good golf this weekend if I want to come out first.” In May, it was Phil Mickelson who bested Oosthuizen. The killer blow coming when he found water with his third shot into a par 4 down the stretch. In June he was playing solidly until Jon Rahm made back-to-back birdies to finish and with the feeling he needed to push a wayward drive on the penultimate hole found a canyon. It’s all in the experience bank now. “In a few of them I needed to play just that little bit better coming down the stretch,” he conceded noting a need for aggression at times. “Right now I think where my game is at, I just need to put myself in position, and this year is the best I’ve been putting, and I just need to hit greens and give myself any opportunities for birdies.” Should Oosthuizen win on Sunday he would join Julius Boros as players to wait 11 years between their first and second majors. Boros will keep the record though – by nine days. Records are there for the challengers also. Morikawa’s 64 in the morning wave posted the lowest 36 holes in an Open at Royal St. George’s (131) only for Oosthuizen to take it just hours later. All that would be forgotten if he wins on his Open Championship debut and become the first player to win two separate majors at their first attempt. He will also look to emulate Ben Curtis – the last player to win an Open on debut – who coincidentally won at Royal St. George’s in 2003. Willie Park Sr (1860), Tom Kidd (1873), Mungo Park (1874), Jock Hutchison (1921), Denny Shute (1933), Ben Hogan (1953), Tony Lema (1964) and Tom Watson (1975) are the only players pre Curtis to all win The Open on debut. On Friday he played with wisdom beyond his experience, noting some of his impressive par saves were perhaps more important than his seven birdies. “Out here in links golf you’re going to hit bad shots. You’re going to hit bad approach shots, bad tee shots,” he said. “To see the par save on 13 I’m really going to draw on that for the rest of the week because sometimes you have to just bite your tongue, play safe, and try and make par best you can. Sometimes bogey is going to be your friend.” Spieth concurs with Morikawa, especially as he believes officials have been nice in the opening two rounds, but won’t be as accommodating over the weekend. “These pin locations, though, they may not look so tricky on television, but a lot of them are on crowns and knobs and they’ve left a lot of opportunities to make them very, very subtly challenging,” Spieth warns, “I think that that’s what’s going to happen, which will obviously make it a little bit harder to make putts or get balls really close to the hole. They made it a good mix with some fun pins these first couple days.” Spieth joined the lead at the 12th hole but faded from there. His 1-under 34 on the back nine was bettered, or equaled by, the top 15 on the leaderboard. “Those last six holes were kind of frustrating. I think I need to bring more food on the golf course tomorrow. I really just got in a weird head space, like fatigued there on the 13th green as we were waiting and hitting putts,” Spieth said. “I just didn’t stay focused like I was early in the round. Wasn’t very sharp. It’s an easy solution for tomorrow. But the finish on 18 probably securing a second to last group on a Sunday is a good position to be in.” And then, there lurking, is Johnson. The two-time major winner seeks a third leg of the career slam. “Obviously I feel like I’m in a good position heading into the weekend,” Johnson said. “The course is definitely firming up. It was firmer this afternoon and it’s definitely going to keep getting firmer if the weather stays like this. I like the position I’m in going into the weekend. Still going to have to play some really good golf if I want to contend on Sunday.”

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Veritex Bank Championship
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
S H Kim+1800
Hank Lebioda+2000
Johnny Keefer+2000
Alistair Docherty+2500
Kensei Hirata+2500
Neal Shipley+2500
Rick Lamb+2500
Trey Winstead+2500
Zecheng Dou+2500
Seungtaek Lee+2800
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Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Rory McIlroy / Shane Lowry+350
Collin Morikawa / Kurt Kitayama+1400
Billy Horschel / Tom Hoge+1800
J.T. Poston / Keith Mitchell+1800
Thomas Detry / Robert MacIntyre+2000
Wyndham Clark / Taylor Moore+2000
Nicolai Hojgaard / Rasmus Hojgaard+2200
Aaron Rai / Sahith Theegala+2500
Ben Griffin / Andrew Novak+2800
Nico Echavarria / Max Greyserman+2800
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Tournament Match-Ups - R. McIlroy / S. Lowry vs C. Morikawa / K. Kitayama
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Rory McIlroy / Shane Lowry-210
Collin Morikawa / Kurt Kitayama+160
Tournament Match-Ups - J.T. Poston / K. Mitchell vs T. Detry / R. MacIntyre
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
J.T. Poston / Keith Mitchell-130
Thomas Detry / Robert MacIntyre+100
Tournament Match-Ups - J. Svensson / N. Norgaard vs R. Fox / G. Higgo
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Ryan Fox / Garrick Higgo-125
Jesper Svensson / Niklas Norgaard-105
Tournament Match-Ups - N. Hojgaard / R. Hojgaard vs N. Echavarria / M. Greyserman
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Nicolai Hojgaard / Rasmus Hojgaard-130
Nico Echavarria / Max Greyserman+100
Tournament Match-Ups - M. Fitzpatrick / A. Fitzpatrick vs S. Stevens / M. McGreevy
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Sam Stevens / Max McGreevy-120
Matt Fitzpatrick / Alex Fitzpatrick-110
Tournament Match-Ups - W. Clark / T. Moore vs B. Horschel / T. Hoge
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Billy Horschel / Tom Hoge-130
Wyndham Clark / Taylor Moore+100
Tournament Match-Ups - N. Taylor / A. Hadwin vs B. Garnett / S. Straka
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Nick Taylor / Adam Hadwin-120
Brice Garnett / Sepp Straka-110
Tournament Match-Ups - A. Rai / S. Theegala vs B. Griffin / A. Novak
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Aaron Rai / Sahith Theegala-120
Ben Griffin / Andrew Novak-110
Tournament Match-Ups - J. Highsmith / A. Tosti vs A. Smalley / J. Bramlett
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Joe Highsmith / Alejandro Tosti-130
Alex Smalley / Joseph Bramlett+100
Tournament Match-Ups - A. Bhatia / C. Young vs M. Wallace / T. Olesen
Type: Tournament Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Akshay Bhatia / Carson Young-120
Matt Wallace / Thorbjorn Olesen-110
1st Round Match Up - Gerard / Walker vs Hoey / Ryder
Type: 1st Round Match Up - Status: OPEN
Gerard / Walker-110
Hoey / Ryder-110
1st Round 2 Ball - Fishburn / Blair v Byrd / Hadley
Type: 1st Round 2 Ball - Status: OPEN
Fishburn / Blair-140
Byrd / Hadley+115
1st Round 2 Ball - Hoey / Ryder v Smalley / Bramlett
Type: 1st Round 2 Ball - Status: OPEN
Hoey / Ryder-115
Smalley / Bramlett-105
1st Round Match Up - McIlroy / Lowry vs Poston / Mitchell
Type: 1st Round Match Up - Status: OPEN
McIlroy / Lowry-180
Poston / Mitchell+150
1st Round 2 Ball - Streb / Merritt v Ramey / Lower
Type: 1st Round 2 Ball - Status: OPEN
Ramey / Lower-155
Streb / Merritt+130
1st Round 2 Ball - Poston / Mitchell v Gerard / Walker
Type: 1st Round 2 Ball - Status: OPEN
Poston / Mitchell-145
Gerard / Walker+120
The Chevron Championship
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Jeeno Thitikul+900
Nelly Korda+1000
Lydia Ko+1400
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Haeran Ryu+2500
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Minjee Lee+2500
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1st Round 2 Ball - Kohles / Kizzire v Hubbard / Brehm
Type: 1st Round 2 Ball - Status: OPEN
Hubbard / Brehm-110
Kohles / Kizzire-110
1st Round 2 Ball - Pavon / Perez v Bezuidenhout / Van Rooyen
Type: 1st Round 2 Ball - Status: OPEN
Bezuidenhout / Van Rooyen-115
Pavon / Perez-105
1st Round Match Up - Garnett / Straka vs Davis / Svensson
Type: 1st Round Match Up - Status: OPEN
Garnett / Straka-130
Davis / Svensson+110
1st Round 2 Ball - Straka / Garnett v Hardy / Riley
Type: 1st Round 2 Ball - Status: OPEN
Straka / Garnett-130
Hardy / Riley+110
1st Round 2 Ball - Thorbjornsen / Vilips v R. Hojgaard / N. Hojgaard
Type: 1st Round 2 Ball - Status: OPEN
R. Hojgaard / N. Hojgaard-130
Thorbjornsen / Vilips+110
1st Round Match Up - Rai / Theegala vs Horschel / Hoge
Type: 1st Round Match Up - Status: OPEN
Horschel / Hoge-110
Rai / Theegala-110
1st Round 2 Ball - Malnati / Knox v Davis / Svensson
Type: 1st Round 2 Ball - Status: OPEN
Davis / Svensson-155
Malnati / Knox+130
1st Round 2 Ball - Hoge / Horschel v Lowry / McIlroy
Type: 1st Round 2 Ball - Status: OPEN
Lowry v McIlroy-180
Hoge / Horschel+150
1st Round 2 Ball - Hodges / Dufner v Snedeker / Reavie
Type: 1st Round 2 Ball - Status: OPEN
Hodges / Dufner-125
Snedeker / Reavie+105
1st Round 2 Ball - Theegala / Rai v Bhatia / Car Young
Type: 1st Round 2 Ball - Status: OPEN
Theegala / Rai-125
Bhatia / Car Young+105
1st Round 3 Balls - J. Thitikul / H. Ryu / Y. Tseng
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls - Status: OPEN
Jeeno Thitikul-140
Haeran Ryu+150
Yani Tseng+850
1st Round 2 Ball - Shelton / Mullinax v Pak / Montgomery
Type: 1st Round 2 Ball - Status: OPEN
Shelton / Mullinax-125
Pak / Montgomery+105
1st Round 2 Ball - F. Capan III / Knapp v Cole / Saunders
Type: 1st Round 2 Ball - Status: OPEN
F. Capan III / Knapp-130
Cole / Saunders+110
1st Round 3 Balls - J.Y. Ko / Y. Saso / B. Henderson
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls - Status: OPEN
Jin Young Ko+115
Brooke Henderson+175
Yuka Saso+275
1st Round 3 Balls - A. Yin / G. Lopez / M. Sagstrom
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls - Status: OPEN
Angel Yin+125
Gaby Lopez+185
Madelene Sagstrom+230
1st Round Match Up - McGreevy / Stevens vs Hisatsune / Kanaya
Type: 1st Round Match Up - Status: OPEN
McGreevy / Stevens-115
Hisatsune / Kanaya-105
1st Round 2 Ball - Hisatsune / Kanaya v B. Taylor / Skinns
Type: 1st Round 2 Ball - Status: OPEN
Hisatsune / Kanaya-145
B. Taylor / Skinns+120
1st Round 2 Ball - Stevens / McGreevy v Sigg / Kisner
Type: 1st Round 2 Ball - Status: OPEN
Stevens / McGreevy-160
Sigg / Kisner+135
1st Round 3 Balls - N. Korda / L. Vu / P. Tavatanakit
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls - Status: OPEN
Nelly Korda+110
Lilia Vu+200
Patty Tavatanakit+250
1st Round 3 Balls - C. Hull / L. Grant / S. Lewis
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls - Status: OPEN
Charley Hull-110
Linn Grant+160
Stacy Lewis+450
1st Round 2 Ball - Dickson / Crowe v Hoshino / Onishi
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Dickson / Crowe+120
Hoshino / Onishi+110
Tie+500
1st Round 2 Ball - Peterson / Rosenmuller v Roy / Cone
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Peterson / Rosenmueller+120
Roy / Cone+110
Tie+500
1st Round 2 Ball - Canter / Smith v Salinda / Velo
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Canter / Smith-110
Salinda / Velo+145
Tie+500
1st Round 2 Ball - Ventura / Rozner v Widing / Fisk
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Ventura / Rozner+115
Widing / Fisk+115
Tie+500
1st Round Match Up - Cauley / Tway vs Valimaki / Silverman
Type: 1st Round Match Up - Status: OPEN
Cauley / Tway-115
Valimaki / Silverman-105
1st Round Match Up - Ghim / C. Kim vs Hossler / Putnam
Type: 1st Round Match Up - Status: OPEN
Ghim / C. Kim-120
Hossler / Putnam+100
1st Round 2 Ball - Cauley / Tway v Ghim / C. Kim
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Cauley / Tway+125
Ghim / C. Kim+105
Tie+500
1st Round 2 Ball - Champ / Griffin v Hossler / Putnam
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Champ / Griffin+130
Hossler / Putnam+105
Tie+500
1st Round 2 Ball - Haas / Laird v Lipsky / D. Wu
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Haas / Laird+140
Lipsky / D. Wu-105
Tie+500
1st Round 2 Ball - Phillips / Bridgeman v Valimaki / Silverman
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Bridgeman / Phillips+105
Valimaki / Silverman+125
Tie+500
1st Round Match Up - Vegas / Yu vs Duncan / Schenk
Type: 1st Round Match Up - Status: OPEN
Vegas / Yu-135
Duncan / Schenk+115
1st Round 2 Ball - Duncan / Schenk v List / Norlander
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
List / Norlander+105
Schenk / Duncan+125
Tie+500
1st Round 2 Ball - Higgs / Dahmen v Novak / Griffin
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Higgs / Dahmen+160
Novak / Griffin-120
Tie+500
1st Round Match Up - M. Fitzpatrick / A. Fitpatrick vs Echavarria / Greyserman
Type: 1st Round Match Up - Status: OPEN
Echavarria / Greyserman-120
M. Fitzpatrick / A. Fitpatrick+100
1st Round 2 Ball - Echavarria / Greyserman v Vegas / Yu
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Greyserman / Echavarria+105
Vegas / Yu+130
Tie+500
1st Round 2 Ball - Moore / Clark v Morikawa / Kitayama
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Kitayama / Morikawa+105
Moore / Clark+130
Tie+500
1st Round Match Up - Fox / Higgo vs Detry / MacIntyre
Type: 1st Round Match Up - Status: OPEN
Detry / MacIntyre-120
Fox / Higgo+100
1st Round 2 Ball - Detry / MacIntyre v M. Fitzpatrick / A. Fitzpatrick
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
A. Fitzpatrick / M. Fitzpatrick+150
Detry / MacIntyre-110
Tie+500
1st Round 2 Ball - Johnson / Palmer v SW. Kim / Bae
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Johnson / Palmer+135
SW Kim / Bae+100
Tie+500
1st Round 3 Balls - C. Boutier / A.L. Kim / M. Khang
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls - Status: OPEN
A Lim Kim+140
Celine Boutier+175
Megan Khang+220
1st Round 3 Balls - H. Green / L. Coughlin / N. Hataoka
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls - Status: OPEN
Lauren Coughlin+165
Nasa Hataoka+170
Hannah Green+190
1st Round 2 Ball - Fox / Higgo v N. Taylor / Hadwin
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Fox / Higgo+115
N. Taylor / Hadwin+115
Tie+500
1st Round 2 Ball - Watney / Hoffman v Villegas / Donald
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Villegas / Donald+140
Watney / Hoffman-105
Tie+500
1st Round 3 Balls - A. Furue / L. Ko / A. Yang
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls - Status: OPEN
Lydia Ko+115
Ayaka Furue+165
Amy Yang+300
1st Round 2 Ball - Cummins / Gotterup v McCarty / Andersen
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Cummins / Gotterup-105
McCarty / Andersen+140
Tie+500
1st Round 2 Ball - Tosti / Highsmith v Wallace / Owen
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Olesen / Wallace+110
Tosti / Highsmith+120
Tie+500
1st Round 2 Ball - Gordon / Riedel v Meissner / Goodwin
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Gordon / Riedel+130
Meissner / Goodwin+105
Tie+500
1st Round 2 Ball - Lashley / Springer v Whaley / Albertson
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Lashley / Springer+100
Whaley / Albertson+135
Tie+500
1st Round 2 Ball - Chandler / NeSmith v J. Paul / Y. Paul
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Chandler / NeSmith+160
J. Paul / Y. Paul-120
Tie+500
1st Round 2 Ball - J. Svensson / Norgaard v Thornberry / Buckley
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Svensson / Norgaard-140
Thornberry / Buckley+190
Tie+500
1st Round 2 Ball - Del Solar / Manassero v Ayora / Del Rey
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Ayora / Del Rey+110
Del Solar / Manassero+120
Tie+500
1st Round 2 Ball - Mouw / Castillo v Suber / Coody
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Mouw / Castillo+115
Suber / Coody+115
Tie+500
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Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Steven Alker+700
Stewart Cink+700
Padraig Harrington+800
Ernie Els+1200
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Type: To Win A Major 2025 - Status: OPEN
Scottie Scheffler+160
Bryson DeChambeau+350
Xander Schauffele+350
Ludvig Aberg+400
Collin Morikawa+450
Jon Rahm+450
Justin Thomas+550
Brooks Koepka+700
Viktor Hovland+700
Hideki Matsuyama+800
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PGA Championship 2025
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Rory McIlroy+500
Scottie Scheffler+500
Bryson DeChambeau+1400
Ludvig Aberg+1400
Xander Schauffele+1400
Jon Rahm+1800
Justin Thomas+1800
Collin Morikawa+2000
Brooks Koepka+2500
Viktor Hovland+2500
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US Open 2025
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Rory McIlroy+500
Scottie Scheffler+500
Bryson DeChambeau+1200
Xander Schauffele+1200
Jon Rahm+1400
Ludvig Aberg+1400
Collin Morikawa+1600
Brooks Koepka+1800
Justin Thomas+2000
Viktor Hovland+2000
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The Open 2025
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Rory McIlroy+500
Scottie Scheffler+550
Xander Schauffele+1100
Ludvig Aberg+1400
Collin Morikawa+1600
Jon Rahm+1600
Bryson DeChambeau+2000
Shane Lowry+2500
Tommy Fleetwood+2500
Tyrrell Hatton+2500
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Ryder Cup 2025
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
USA-150
Europe+140
Tie+1200

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Usually he likes to have two putting sessions, with his range time squeezed in between. But on Friday, he skipped the first putting session, and gave himself a little more time on the practice green after his range work. The adjustment obviously worked – his bogey-free 63 is his lowest score of the season. “Sometimes you don’t have to feel perfect to play good golf,â€� said Rose, who is at 11 under. “I think that’s the most important thing I realized today.â€� Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods both struggled to back up their opening 62s. Woods bogeyed his final two holes to shoot an even-par 70, while McIlroy managed to break par with a birdie at the par-5 16th to shoot 69. “It’s hard to stay patient whenever you know what you’ve done yesterday,â€� McIlroy said. “I didn’t want to lose too much ground. I should have been a few better.â€� Jason Day hit all 18 greens Friday for just the second time in his career, which was the key for his bogey-free 64 that moved him to 9 under, four shots off the lead. “The game is flowing nicely,â€� Day said. “Even though when I was out of position, I got myself back on the green and gave myself the opportunity to make a birdie or make a solid par.â€� Tony Finau has a streak of 13 consecutive rounds in the 60s – and the lowest score in that streak came Friday with a 6-under 64 that leaves him at 8 under. The fact that the long-hitting Finau is pulling driver out on many holes made it even more impressive. “I proved to myself, any type of golf course I can make birdies on and compete well on,â€� Finau said. “It’s a golf course that takes driver out of my hand more than I like but that doesn’t mean I can’t make birdies.â€� Keegan Bradley, like Schauffele, ranks lower in the fourth round than in his other three rounds. Two weeks ago at THE NORTHERN TRUST, he entered the final round in solo second behind Bryson DeChambeau, but carded a 78 to fall into a tie for 34th and lose valuable FedExCup points. “It’s time to go out on the weekend and do my thing,â€� he said. QUOTABLES Cheesesteaks, I guess.Kind of been a blessing in disguise.Had to be from the pro-am. SUPERLATIVES Low round – Kevin Na’s bogey-free 8-under 62 that included five birdies on his back nine. Na made 156 feet, 8 inches of putts. “I lit it up with the putter,â€� he said. Bogey-free rounds – Ryan Armour, Patrick Cantlay, Jason Day, Tommy Fleetwood, Beau Hossler, Charles Howell III, Marc Leishman, Francesco Molinari, Kevin Na (62), Alex Noren, Ted Potter Jr., Justin Rose, Bubba Watson Longest drive – Gary Woodland’s 362-yard drive on the par-4 seventh. Longest putt – Jon Rahm’s birdie putt from 65 feet, 4 inches. Hardest hole – The 465-yard par-4 fourth played to a stroke average of 4.188, with just five birdies. Easiest hole -  The 563-yard par-5 16th played to a stroke average of 4.261, with 50 of the 69 players making birdie (and one other making eagle). CALL OF THE DAY For play-by-play coverage of the third round of the BMW Championship, listen at PGATOUR.COM. SHOT OF THE DAY

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