Mayakoba Golf Classic, Round 3: Leaderboard, tee times, TV times

The Grateful Dead didn’t release an album about 2020, but the band from the Bay Area might as well have. Indeed, it’s been a long, strange trip. The four majors are the cornerstones on the golf calendar, but the pandemic has whittled the 2019-20 PGA TOUR season to one, this week’s PGA Championship. It’s the 102nd edition. Coincidentally, it’s the major to which you already associate a radical adjustment in recent memory. Long the anchor of the majors through 2018, it moved to May in 2019 as part of wholesale changes that repositioned THE PLAYERS Championship to its old spot in March and a shift of the FedExCup Playoffs up a month and into August. Consideration for the quadrennial Olympics over time also factored. RELATED: The First Look | Inside the Field Then 2020 was dropped on the world. Despite what that numerical value could suggest, there’s been nothing perfect about the vision for the near future. Yet, it keeps truckin’ on with this much as clear: the PGA of America is poised to present the tournament at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco. TPC Harding Park last hosted the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play in 2015. Forty in this week’s field competed that week. Before that and a trio of Charles Schwab Cup Championships, the Presidents Cup was contested in 2009. Before that, the then-WGC-American Express Championship in 2005. And before that, TPC Harding Park was a parking lot for the 1998 U.S. Open at The Olympic Club across Lake Merced. Seriously. That also was the last year that the PGA Championship was held on the West Coast (Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington). Each of the 156 entrants is slotted below. Thirty are first-time participants. The traditional component of the Power Rankings slots 20. Brief explanations for each category beneath it are provided. Scroll past all of them for details of the host course, what should be required to prevail and more. POWER RANKINGS: PGA CHAMPIONSHIP WILD CARD Collin Morikawa … Nothing like making your PGA Championship debut within a short drive of your college stomping grounds the year after graduation; oh, and as a two-time PGA TOUR winner with only one missed cut in 26 starts as a professional and slotted sixth in the FedExCup in your first full season. The former Cal-Berkeley standout has the game and he has the comportment. All he’s missing is the experience. It’s just that that hasn’t mattered. CHALLENGERS Each of the 24 slotted here demand attention, but all fall short of cracking the Power Rankings. It’s through no indictment of any, but each lacks a punch that those above present right now. Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence (* – former champion; ^ – debutant; 2015 WGC-Match Play finish) Charl Schwartzel (T9) *Tiger Woods Abraham Ancer Tony Finau Ryan Palmer (T52) Chez Reavie *Phil Mickelson Ian Poulter (T34) ^Viktor Hovland Adam Scott (T52) Billy Horschel (T17) Shane Lowry (T34) Matt Kuchar (T34) Jordan Spieth (T17) Sergio Garcia (T34) Patrick Reed (T17) Kevin Kisner Harris English (T17) Louis Oosthuizen (T5) ^Matthew Wolff Kevin Streelman Justin Rose (T17) Henrik Stenson (T34) *Martin Kaymer (T34) SLEEPERS The customary definition for this weekly category is tossed aside for a week in favor of full relativity to the field. Always an eclectic bunch, this grouping of 16 doesn’t disappoint. It’s loaded with youth, upstarts, dandy course fits and a 2020 Ryder Cup captain. Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence (^ – debutant; 2015 WGC-Match Play finish) Max Homa Mackenzie Hughes Corey Conners Joost Luiten (T17) Adam Hadwin Brendan Steele Adam Long ^Doc Redman Lucas Herbert Joaquin Niemann Cameron Champ J.T. Poston Dylan Frittelli Steve Stricker Mike Lorenzo-Vera Ryo Ishikawa QUESTION MARKS Seventy-five in the field of 156 are segregated into the two subcategories below. Placement is relative fit, form and other variables. ARROW UP Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence (* – former champion; ^ – debutant; 2015 WGC-Match Play finish) Richy Werenski Marc Leishman (T9) Tom Lewis ^Matthias Schwab Erik van Rooyen Michael Thompson Joel Dahmen Lucas Glover Danny Willett (3rd) ^Talor Gooch ^Scottie Scheffler ^Mark Hubbard *Keegan Bradley (T52) Troy Merritt Cameron Tringale Luke List ^Chan Kim Emiliano Grillo ^Lanto Griffin Si Woo Kim ^Christiaan Bezuidenhout ^Sepp Straka Kurt Kitayama ^Robert MacIntyre ^Joohyung Kim Shaun Norris Zach Johnson (T17) ^Benjamin Hebert Matt Jones (T34) ^Marcus Kinhult Russell Henley (T34) ^Tyler Duncan ^Xinjun Zhang ARROW DOWN Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence (* – former champion; ^ – debutant; 2015 WGC-Match Play finish) Byeong Hun An Jim Furyk (4th) Paul Casey (T5) Graeme McDowell (T52) Rafa Cabrera Bello Brian Harman Brandt Snedeker (T52) ^Denny McCarthy Bernd Wiesberger (T34) Jason Kokrak Bubba Watson (T17) ^Carlos Ortiz Scott Piercy Nick Taylor Sungjae Im Bud Cauley Brian Stuard Cameron Smith ^Sebastián Muñoz Keith Mitchell *Jimmy Walker (T52) Sung Kang ^Victor Perez Vaughn Taylor Hao Tong Li Andrew Landry Harold Varner III ^Wyndham Clark Jorge Campillo ^Tom Hoge Rory Sabbatini Jazz Janewattananond C.T. Pan Danny Lee *Jason Dufner *Davis Love III Andrew Putnam *Rich Beem ^Nate Lashley Jim Herman *Shaun Micheel ^Ken Tanigawa PGA PROFESSIONALS On June 29, the rescheduled PGA Professional National Championship (for July 19-22) was canceled. So, the 20 exemptions in the PGA Championship reserved for the top finishers in that annual competition were awarded to the top 20 in the 2019 PGA Professional Player of the Year standings. Among the notables, former PGA TOUR member and 60-year-old Jeff Hart is making his debut. Jeff “J.R.” Roth is making his first appearance since his fifth 16 years ago. He made his debut in 1988. The 62-year-old has won a record-tying 17 Michigan majors. Ranked in order of Rob’s confidence (% – former PGA TOUR member; # of prior appearances in parentheses) Ryan Vermeer (3) %Jason Caron (1) %Bob Sowards (10) Rob Labritz (6) Ben Cook (1) Shawn Warren (1) Danny Balin (6) Justin Bertsch (1) David Muttitt (4) John O’Leary (2) Alex Beach (2) Michael Auterson (0) Zach J. Johnson (1) Marty Jertson (4) Judd Gibb (0) Rod Perry (6) Rich Berberian, Jr. (4) Alex Knoll (0) %Jeff Hart (0) Jeff Roth (5) NOTE: John Daly, Branden Grace, Padraig Harrington, J.B. Holmes, Charles Howell III, Francesco Molinari, Ryan Moore, Eddie Pepperell, Thomas Pieters, Vijay Singh, Paul Waring, Lee Westwood and Y.E. Yang qualified but will not compete. Unlike the guided walks for the Presidents Cup and the Match Play, the traditional routing of TPC Harding Park will be used for the PGA Championship. It’ll also play to a par of 70 with two par fives for the first time since the 2005 WGC was contested. It was a par 71 for all events in the interim. Despite the reduction of par since its last time on center stage, TPC Harding Park is 107 yards longer. It now tips at 7,234 yards. The par-4 seventh and 16th holes are drivable – although that phrase never has been more relative on some seemingly non-drivable par 4s – and the par-4 ninth and 12th holes are converted par 5s. Lake Merced comes into view on the 13th green over which The Olympic Club can be seen. Most recently, that’s where Webb Simpson captured victory at the U.S. Open in 2012. From the 14th tee all the way to the house, water helps frame TPC Harding Park on the left. In part because of the beauty along the perimeter of the property, the inward side features the most interesting holes. Among them are the scorable par-5 10th and the 171-yard 17th, the shortest par 3 on the course. Without spectators on site, the variety of distinctive tall trees enhance the visceral experience, not that pinched fairways framed by rough as high as four inches and reasonably sized elevated greens won’t require most of the attention. Bentgrass greens are naturally groomed to be slick. That’ll be more evident later in every round with sunshine overhead. Because TPC Harding Park is situated within a mile of the Pacific Ocean, a morning marine layer always is a possibility. Sunny and dry conditions are forecast throughout the tournament. The not-so-insignificant invisible challenge will be prevailing winds out of the southwest. Trousers will be flapping at times – joggers, not so much – while daytime highs in the mid-60s will help govern distance off the tee and on approach. The winner of the Wanamaker Trophy likely will have contended for the lead in fairways hit, scrambling and bogey avoidance. Because of the penalty for missing fairways, greens-in-regulation percentages will take a hit, so he may need to slot inside only the top 20 or so. Once determined, the champion will earn 600 FedExCup points, a five-year PGA TOUR membership exemption, a lifetime exemption into the PGA Championship, five-year exemptions into the other three majors and THE PLAYERS Championship, and $2.7 million of the $15-million prize fund, a record in the history of professional golf. It’d be disingenuous to think that Jordan Spieth doesn’t care about those spoils, but his brass ring is the last leg of the career grand slam. This will be his fourth attempt. His pursuit will be followed by Phil Mickelson at the U.S. Open and Rory McIlroy at the Masters, both of whom are missing those pieces to their own career grand slams. If you’re interested in the greatest performers in the history of the PGA Championship, please read the all-time Power Rankings that published during the tournament’s originally scheduled week in May. ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE PGATOUR.COM’s Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton recaps and previews every tournament from numerous angles. Look for his following contributions as scheduled. MONDAY: Rookie Ranking, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Power Rankings TUESDAY*: Fantasy Insider * – Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf, which also publishes on Tuesday.

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One man’s opinion on the 10 best moments in the history of the FedExCup Playoffs, which began in 2007: 1. HAAS’ GREAT RECOVERY: There is always drama when a PGA TOUR player wades into the water to play a shot. Then add the pressure of a sudden-death playoff. For the TOUR Championship, the FedExCup trophy and its $10 million prize. Bill Haas was facing Hunter Mahan when Haas’ approach shot on the second extra hole at East Lake trickled into the water left of the 17th green. With Mahan assured a par, Haas had no choice but to try to pull off a miracle shot. Not only did he splash it out onto the green, but the ball checked up next to the hole. With his father and TOUR stalwart Jay Haas watching and his brother Jay, Jr., carrying his bag, Bill made a clutch par at No. 18 to win the title and hold both trophies. His up-and-down from the water will live forever among golf’s greatest recovery shots. FEDEXCUP: FedExCup 101 | FedExCup winners | ‘The Hardware’ video 2. RORY’S DYNAMIC CLOSE: McIlroy hadn’t enjoyed a great season until he began to heat up with a win at the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston, and he authored another wild comeback at the TOUR Championship. He holed out for eagle from 137 yards at the 16th hole, birdied 18 to force a playoff with Kevin Chappell and Ryan Moore, and maintained his composure with the FedExCup in the balance. Although he missed a five-foot eagle putt at the first extra hole (the 18th) that would have won it all, McIlroy drained a 15-footer for birdie at the fourth extra hole (16) to top Moore’s scrambling par. McIlroy surpassed Dustin Johnson to become the third international player to hoist the FedExCup trophy.    3. JORDAN RUNS THE TABLE: Sometimes a player simply runs the table. By winning the 2015 TOUR Championship—by a tidy four shots, no less—Jordan Spieth zoomed past Day to win the entire FedExCup. In doing so, the hot-putting Spieth, at 22 years, 2 months old, became the youngest player to win the TOUR Championship and the FedExCup, and the youngest player since Horton Smith in 1929 to win five times in a single season. Spieth also broke the TOUR record for most money won in a single season ($12,030,465), returned to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking—taking the top spot back from Jason Day—and left no doubt as to who would become the 2015 Player of the Year.  4. FURYK? YES!: Every golfer has the fantasy that one club will turn him or her into a winner. Jim Furyk went looking for such a magic weapon in a used-club barrel at a sporting goods store near Boston while in town for the 2010 Deutsche Bank Championship. He bought a used Yes! putter and put it in the bag for the remaining two FedExCup Playoffs events. He was protecting a one-shot lead at the TOUR Championship when he hit his tee shot at the par-3 18th into a greenside bunker. In a steady drizzle, Furyk hit a great shot from the soggy sand to about 3 feet, but it wouldn’t mean anything unless his new used putter came through. You could almost see him scream, “Yes!â€� when he holed the clutch putt to claim golf’s biggest prize. 5. TIGER AND PHIL’S FACEOFF: The 2007 Deutsche Bank Championship truly had a playoff atmosphere when Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods were paired together for the final round. TPC Boston seemed more like Fenway Park for a Red Sox game against the Yankees. In the penultimate group, the two stars exceeded the lofty expectations: Woods shot 67, but Mickelson shot 66 to win by two shots. 6. FURYK’S 59: Jim Furyk was having another consistently strong season on the PGA TOUR as he entered the 2013 BMW Championship, but he hadn’t done anything truly spectacular … until Friday’s second round. After a forgettable 1-over 72 on Thursday, Furyk delivered the best round in FedExCup history. He opened with a remarkable six birdies and an eagle on Conway Farms’ back nine. Three quick birdies after the turn created a ’59 watch’ in the golf world. Needing just one more birdie to break 60, Furyk instead made a bogey at the par-4 fifth hole. However, the ever-resilient Furyk bounced back with a birdie at No. 7 and arrived at the last hole needing just one more birdie to shoot the first 59 in PGA TOUR history with a bogey. On the final hole, Furyk hit a perfect drive, a perfect wedge to 3 feet, 3 inches, and a perfect putt for the first imperfect 59. It was the low round of the day by six shots. 7. HORSCHEL’S HOT STREAK: Billy Horschel’s best finish during the 2013-’14 season before the Deutsche Bank Championship was a mediocre tie for 6th. He stood over his second shot at the par-5 finishing hole at TPC Boston knowing he could win with an eagle. He hit his 6-iron fat into the hazard short of the green, though. Instead of beating himself up over a lost opportunity, Horschel built on the momentum of his good play in Boston. The following week in Denver, he won the BMW Championship at Cherry Hills, and then held off Rory McIlroy to win the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola for the two biggest victories in his career. It’s easily the best finish in FedExCup history. 8. WOODS DOMINATES: There was a lot of hype promoting the first FedExCup in 2007. A win by Tiger Woods would immediately add credibility to the new competition. As he usually does, Woods delivered. He packaged four stellar rounds of 66 or lower en route to an eight-shot victory at the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola at East Lake. He was the first to have his name engraved on the sterling-silver Tiffany FedExCup trophy. 9. DAY DARTS TO NO. 1: With his six-shot victory at the 2015 BMW Championship, his fourth win in six starts, Jason Day became the third Australian (Greg Norman, Adam Scott) to hit No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking. After opening with a 10-under 61, Day tied the PGA TOUR record for low first 36 holes (124), and his 193 total through three rounds broke the BMW record for low 54. Day assured he would go into the TOUR Championship at No. 1 in the FedExCup race, and joined Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods as the only players to win a major and two Playoffs events in the same season. Still, Day was most intent on reaching No. 1 in the OWGR, a lifelong dream. “Yesterday and today were probably the toughest rounds I have ever had to play in my life,â€� he said.  10. SNEDEKER’S SPECIAL VISIT: Brandt Snedeker held the 54-hole lead at The TOUR Championship, but instead of dwelling on what winning the FedExCup would mean to him, he spent his Sunday morning in Atlanta trying to bring joy and comfort to Tucker Anderson. The son of Snedeker’s swing coach, Todd Anderson, Tucker was critically injured in a car crash earlier that September. Snedeker said the hospital visit put the competition in perspective. Later that afternoon, Snedeker chipped in on the 71st hole to win both the TOUR Championship and the FedExCup. More importantly, he inspired a friend during his difficult recovery. Tom Alter is the Vice President of Communications for the PGA TOUR and has worked at the TOUR for more than 25 years in television production, programming, and now promotion. He will be working at all four of this year’s FedExCup Playoff events.

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In consecutive weeks, Patrick Cantlay held off golf’s biggest and best — first Bryson DeChambeau, then Jon Rahm. Cantlay took home a big payday but also answered any questions about whether he has what it takes to win when the pressure is on.

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