Live leaderboard: Round 3 of AT&T Byron Nelson

Johnson Wagner … Even headliners like Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickelson and defending champion Jason Day won’t feel as comfortable as Wagner, who is a perennial Sleeper given he’s a member of Quail Hollow Club. He’s a three-time PGA TOUR winner, but this isn’t his club championship, so he’s absolved from the criticism that last year’s T13 was his first top 25 in 11 tries since he splashed onto the circuit in 2007. The course fits his eye in part because he’s a tee-to-green tactician, a skill set rewarded here. However, he’s also averaging over one stroke gained per tournament with his putter this season. His local knowledge mattered last year as he ranked third in strokes gained: putting and led the field in conversion percentage inside 10 feet. Luke List … The last time the long hitter landed in this space, he delivered with a T10 at Bay Hill. He’s cooled since, but inconsistency aligns with his reputation. Quail Hollow aligns with his profile, and it’s paid dividends. He finished T16 as a rookie in 2013 and a T9 last year when he slotted third in strokes gained: tee-to-green. Sits 14th on TOUR in the stat right now as well as ninth in par-5 scoring. Joel Dahmen … After making hay easier tracks last season, he’s replicating the process on stiffer tests in 2018-19. Already with a T9 at Torrey Pines, a T12 at TPC Sawgrass and a T16 at Harbour Town on the board, he’s projecting toward another top 20 at Quail Hollow. In fact, it wouldn’t be his first on the course as he placed T16 in his debut a year ago. The 31-year-old feeds off keeping his ball in play off the tee, and despite his evolving profile, he still doesn’t mind dipping into the red numbers. Currently T3 on TOUR with 39 of them this season. Matt Jones … Currently 110th in the FedExCup, but it wasn’t until a T13 at Torrey Pines three months ago that his rally was sparked. He’s 8-for-8 since with three top 20s in individual competition, including another T13 at Copperhead. The Aussie also is no stranger at Quail Hollow where he’s logged 21 rounds and recorded a pair of top 25, albeit not since a T21 in 2011, but that experience in conjunction with his recent consistency warrants this focus. Currently 50th on TOUR in strokes gained: tee-to-green, 34th in scrambling and T33 in par-5 scoring. Wyndham Clark … While the former Pac-12 Conference individual champ (2017) at the University of Oregon arguably is best known as a long hitter, he ain’t no one-trick pony. Now 25 years of age and in his rookie season on the PGA TOUR, he’s 12th in strokes gained: putting, second in putts per greens in regulation and fifth in putting: birdies-or-better. He also leads the circuit in conversion percentage inside 10 feet. His muscle off the tee means that he won’t be overwhelmed by the biggest of ballparks, but tough ones also are within his mastery. His last two top 20s occurred at PGA National (T7) and TPC San Antonio (T20). With four top 20s on the season, he’s sitting comfortably at 91st in the FedExCup standings as he debuts at Quail Hollow. NOTE: Sleeper is a relative term, so Rob uses unofficial criteria to determine who qualifies. Each of the following usually is determined to be ineligible for this weekly staple: Winners of the tournament on the current host course; winners in the same season; recent major champions; top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking; recent participants of team competitions.

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When Rory McIlroy triumphed at The Honda Classic in 2012, the then 22-year-old became the second-youngest player in history to reach world No. 1. The man who still holds the record for being the youngest ever to reach No. 1 is Tiger Woods, and it was only fitting that, nine years ago, it was Woods who tested McIlroy’s resolve on a windy Sunday at PGA National. A ball-striking clinic over the first three days resulted in rounds of 66-67-66 to give McIlroy a two-stroke advantage heading into the final day, but it was McIlroy’s short game that led him to prevail on an altogether different Sunday. Early on in his round, a number of excellent up-and-downs helped McIlroy forge a seemingly comfortable four-stroke lead with just eight holes to play. However, beginning nine strokes behind McIlroy, Woods tore up the course to move into contention, making an eagle and three birdies in his first 11 holes. In classic Woods style, he would then birdie No. 17 and land a significant blow on No. 18 when he poured in his 8-foot eagle putt to post a 72-hole total of 10 under to get to within one of the Irishman who still had the daunting ‘Bear Trap’ (Nos. 15-17) to face. Speaking on the threat of Woods on the final day, McIlroy said after his round: “I wasn’t really paying much attention until he made that eagle on 18. I heard the huge roar and it definitely wasn’t a birdie roar. That’s when I knew that he probably got to 10 (under).” With his lead down to just one, McIlroy made a crucial birdie on the 13th when he spun his lob wedge from 92 yards back to 6 feet before holing the slippery putt to restore his lead to two. “That putt was very important.” McIlroy would say following his round. On the perilous 14th hole, McIlroy found trouble when he missed the green to the right, leaving himself in the gnarly rough. But he was once again able to extricate himself out of a tricky spot, deftly using his 60-degree wedge to chip to 4 feet for par which he swiftly dispatched into the back of the cup. Having made safe pars on Nos. 15 and 16, the Ulsterman made his way to the par-3 17th hole, where he found the greenside bunker. With a splash of the sand, McIlroy left himself another 4-footer for par and showed no nerves at all as he poured in the putt which gave him a two-stroke advantage heading to the par-5 18th. A final par delivered a two-stroke victory for McIlroy, who afterwards credited his short game for holding off a surging Woods on the last day. “First and foremost, it’s great to win this tournament, it’s got a long history. It was tough today especially seeing Tiger make a charge. I knew par golf would probably be good enough and that’s what I was trying to do. My short game felt great all week and definitely saved me a few times today.” The Honda Classic was the third PGA TOUR victory of McIlroy’s career, who has gone on to win 18 times on TOUR. Since rising to the top of the sport that week in 2012, McIlroy has spent a total of 106 weeks holding the No. 1 ranking, the fourth-most in history behind Tiger Woods, Greg Norman and Dustin Johnson. From an equipment standpoint, McIlroy didn't ink his equipment an apparel deal with Nike until 2013. In 2012, he was a full-bag Titleist man—as was the case for his career up to that point. There are similarities to his current TaylorMade set-up, including the dual fairway wood setup, and similar shaft weights and flexes, but there are also some interesting differences. Now, McIlroy plays a set-matched TaylorMade P7MB pitching wedge, whereas in 2012, he used a "proper wedge"—a 46-degree Vokey. Interestingly, McIlroy has played a high MOI mallet for the better part of the past few seasons, but he recently switched to a TaylorMade Juno putter, which is similar in shape to the Scotty Cameron Newport GSS prototype he won with in 2012. What was in McIlroy’s bag? Driver: Titliest 913D3 Prototype (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Rombax 7V05 X 3-wood: Titleist PT 906F2 (13 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura ZCom Pro 95 X 5-wood: Titleist 909F2 (18 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura ZCom Pro 95 X Irons: Titleist 712 MB (3-9) Shafts: Project X 7.0 Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM4 (46, 54, 60 degrees) Shafts: Project X 6.5 Putter: Scotty Cameron Newport GSS prototype Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Grips: Golf Pride MCC (black, yellow)

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