Emergency 9: Valero Texas Open, Round 3

Emergency 9 Here are nine tidbits from Round 3 of the Valero Texas Open that gamers can use tomorrow, this weekend or down the road. The AT&T Oaks Course in San Antonio has been the host since 2010 and plays 7,435 yards to a par-72. Final Paring The experience factor falls squarely in the lap of Zach Johnson in the final round as he’s won in the state of Texas on four previous occasions (twice at La Cantera and Colonial). He backed up his career-best round of 65 at The AT&T Oaks course with his T-second-best round of 68 to share the last tee time with Andrew Landry on 13 under par. Johnson finished strongly as he played his final 14 holes 5 under par. … Landry played in the final group at the CareerBuilder Challenge in January and fired a 68 before losing in a playoff to Jon Rahm. The Texan shouldn’t be out of his depth and the underdog role should suit him well. He didn’t square a bogey in Round 3 and only had one in Round 2 so he’s on point. Trey, Bien Trey Mullinax set the course record with 62 in Round 3 that included seven birdies, two eagles and only one bogey. He’s only posted two top-10 finishes in 40 previous events but his T8 at Valspar was just two starts ago. Playing out of the 126-150 category he’s been under plenty of pressure already this season. He’s 14 under the last two rounds and is leading the field in SG: putting. Walker, Texas Ranger Jimmy Walker was pleased after the round that he finally racked up some birdies, seven of them, as he fights to find four-round form dealing with the effects of Lyme disease. The 2015 champion will be the fan favorite tomorrow and gets to sleep in his own bed tonight just four shots behind. His worst final round in four previous tries is 70 so I’d expect him to be in the mix late tomorrow. He is T2 with 17 birdies. Keen on Joaquin Former world No. 1 amateur Joaquin Niemann has improved each round in his first start as a professional. After opening with 72 he went two lower in Round 2 before posting an excellent 67 in Round 3 to sit T11. His round tomorrow is huge because a top-10 finish will save him a sponsor’s exemption down the road. Gamers should have him on their radar and his 67 today should have added plenty of more eyeballs. Been There, Done That 2013 champ Martin Laird saw his co-course record fall today but sitting at T5, four-shots back has his focus elsewhere. After ripping off nine birdies in Round 2 he only posted two (and an eagle) in Round 3. I’m more interested in the 17 holes he played without a bogey after stubbing his toe on No. 1. … Chris Kirk, who has also won at Colonial, backed up his bogey-free 66 with a 68 in Round 3. He’s hit three more greens each day since opening with just nine in Round 1 so it’s not surprising he’s only squared one bogey in the last 36 holes. Moving Day A bogey-free 65 that included an eagle saw Sean O’Hair jump 20 spots into the conversation at T5. O’Hair finished T2 at Colonial last year and constantly plays well at Bay Hill, a course that has an interesting correlation this week. He’s only squared four bogeys and a double this week. He’ll play on Sunday with Walker and next week as they are paired in New Orleans … Defending champ Kevin Chappell continues his weekend mastery at this event as his 67 moved him up 28 spots to T20. His closed with 68 the last two years to finish T4 or better. I’m riding him until my spurs fall off as it looks like his back is behaving again. Moving Day: Wrong Way 54-hole co-leader Ryan Moore posted 70 today and dropped to fourth alone, reinforcing how “gettable” The AT&T Oaks Course was today after the threat of storms and rain never materialized. Of the six nines he’s played this week his only bogeys were on his outward round Saturday. In two previous Sunday rounds here he’s posted 68 and 72 and will be looking to pick up his first win since the John Deere Classic in 2016. Knocking Again I see you creeping again, Beau Hossler. His 69 in Round 3 moved him to T11 and six shots back. He closed with a 67 in Houston (P2) followed by a 68 at Harbour Town (T16) last week to continue his excellent second season. He’s T7 GIR for the week after hitting 16 of 18 in Round 3. Study Hall With 80 players making the 36-hole cut, MDF took place after Round 3. If Xander Schauffele or Bill Haas were in your lineup, among others, please be aware and adjust! … Round 3 played the easiest of the week at 70.925, down from 72.052 in Round 2. There were eight, bogey-free rounds, two more than Round 2. … 2016 champ Charley Hoffman finally posted a round in the red (71), ending a streak of five rounds above par. It’s a case of too-little-too-late for gamers in any format, sadly. … The mystery that is Si Woo Kim continues to baffle most players as he also sits T59, tied with Hoffman, entering the final round.

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