Officialsportsbetting.com Golf Betting Rory McIlroy leads by one at DP World Tour Championship thanks to cliff-edge improvisation

Rory McIlroy leads by one at DP World Tour Championship thanks to cliff-edge improvisation

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Rory McIlroy was on the rocks late in his third round at the DP World Tour Championship. Some cliff-edge improvisation, followed by a final-hole birdie, put him back in control. Seeking a second straight victory to end his season, McIlroy delivered another wild finish at Jumeirah Golf Estates in shooting a 5-under 67 that left the four-time major champion with a one-stroke lead on Saturday. Sam Horsfield bogeyed the 18th hole to shoot 69 and drop out of a share of the lead with McIlroy, who was 14 under overall in the season-closing event on the European Tour. Collin Morikawa, still on course to become the first American to finish a season as the tour’s No. 1 player, was three shots back in a four-way share of fifth place after his round of 69. Standing on the tee at the par-3 17th hole holding a one-stroke lead, McIlroy missed the green left and saw the ball bounce through the rough and dance along the edge of the cliffs. It eventually settled on a narrow ledge, to gasps among spectators. McIlroy opted against taking a drop, which was the preferred choice of his caddie, Harry Diamond, and managed to clip a shot off the stone and through the green. He missed the return chip by inches, but a par was a good result given what could have happened. “Harry was pleading with me not to hit it,” McIroy said. “He was like, `We can just go back and make 4 at the last.'” McIlroy then pitched to 9 feet with his third shot — from just on the green — at the par-5 18th and holed the birdie putt which would regain the lead after Horsfield’s bogey a few minutes later. McIlroy, who won THE CJ CUP @ SUMMIT in Las Vegas last month, closed his second round on Friday with a double-bogey 7 after hitting into water at the 18th. He made a dreadful start to his third round, too, snap-hooking a 3-wood off the first tee and making a bogey. McIlroy responded with birdies at Nos. 2 and 3 — two of the seven he had in total. Morikawa, playing alongside McIlroy, birdied three of his first six holes to move into a tie for the lead with his playing partner and four others. The American made par on each of his final 12 holes to slip off the pace. “It was all over the place,” Morikawa said. “Front nine played pretty good but overall just didn’t take advantage of the par 5s. “All three days have kind of been a little bit of this, a little bit of that, and got one more day to kind of put everything together and hopefully put a low one out there.” Morikawa is the highest-placed of the six players who can still win the Race to Dubai and is unlikely now to need a victory to clinch the title. Billy Horschel is second behind Morikawa in the points race but is 37th in the 52-man field, eight shots adrift of his compatriot.

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Final Round 2-Balls - J. Guerrier / O. Lindell
Type: Final Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Julien Guerrier-110
Oliver Lindell+120
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - W. Nienaber / Y. Paul
Type: Final Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Yannik Paul+100
Wilco Nienaber+110
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - E. Molinari / R. Langasque
Type: Final Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Romain Langasque-105
Edoardo Molinari+115
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - M. Southgate / M. Kinhult
Type: Final Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Marcus Kinhult+100
Matthew Southgate+110
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - T. Clements / T. Christensen
Type: Final Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Todd Clements-175
Tiger Christensen+190
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - E. Ferguson / J. Luiten
Type: Final Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Joost Luiten-110
Ewen Ferguson+120
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - M. Couvra / M. Lindberg
Type: Final Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Martin Couvra-135
Mikael Lindberg+150
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - M. Jordan / J. Smith
Type: Final Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Jordan Smith-110
Matthew Jordan+120
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - H. Li / R. Williams
Type: Final Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Haotong Li-175
Robin Williams+190
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - J. Campillo / B. Robinson
Type: Final Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Jorge Campillo+100
Brandon Robinson-Thompson+110
Tie+750
Mizuho Americas Open
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Jeeno Thitikul+100
Nelly Korda+335
Celine Boutier+400
Andrea Lee+850
Yealimi Noh+1400
Carlota Ciganda+3000
Rio Takeda+7000
Lydia Ko+17500
Kristen Gillman+30000
Somi Lee+35000
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Final Round 2-Balls - M. Katsu / J. Shin
Type: Final Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Minami Katsu+100
Jenny Shin+110
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - J. Bae / J. Kupcho
Type: Final Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Jennifer Kupcho-145
Jenny Bae+165
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - G. Higgo / S. Theegala
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Garrick Higgo+125
Sahith Theegala-115
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - M. Lee / H. Naveed
Type: Final Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Minjee Lee-180
Hira Naveed+200
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - M. Pavon / M. Greyserman
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Matthieu Pavon+130
Max Greyserman-120
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - S. Kyriacou / L. Duncan
Type: Final Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Lindy Duncan+105
Stephanie Kyriacou+105
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - L. Aberg / T. Pendrith
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Ludvig Aberg-120
Taylor Pendrith+135
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - P. Tavatanakit / A. Yubol
Type: Final Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Patty Tavatanakit-130
Arpichaya Yubol+145
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - C. Kirk / A. Hadwin
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Adam Hadwin+110
Chris Kirk+100
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - R. Yin / A. Kim
Type: Final Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Ruoning Yin-160
Auston Kim+180
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - W. Clark / L. Glover
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Lucas Glover+120
Wyndham Clark-110
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - L. Ko / S. Lee
Type: Final Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Lydia Ko-135
Somi Lee+150
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - A. Eckroat / R. Henley
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Austin Eckroat+150
Russell Henley-135
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - J. Lopez / E. Szokol
Type: Final Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Elizabeth Szokol-105
Julia Lopez Ramirez+115
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - M. Thorbjornsen / B. Harman
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Brian Harman-110
Michael Thorbjornsen+120
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - R. Takeda / K. Gillman
Type: Final Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Rio Takeda-200
Kristen Gillman+225
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - V. Hovland / N. Dunlap
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Nick Dunlap+185
Viktor Hovland-170
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - Y. Noh / C. Ciganda
Type: Final Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Yealimi Noh-105
Carlota Ciganda+115
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - D. McCarthy / T. Hoge
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Denny McCarthy+100
Tom Hoge+110
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - N. Korda / A. Lee
Type: Final Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Nelly Korda-145
Andrea Lee+160
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - M.W. Lee / M. McNealy
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Maverick McNealy-105
Min Woo Lee+115
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - J. Thitikul / C. Boutier
Type: Final Round 2-Balls - Status: OPEN
Jeeno Thitikul-135
Celine Boutier+150
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - A. Novak / R. MacIntyre
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Andrew Novak+105
Robert MacIntyre+105
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - J. Highsmith / C. Bezuidenhout
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Christiaan Bezuidenhout+100
Joe Highsmith+110
Tie+750
Myrtle Beach Classic
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Carson Young+275
Mackenzie Hughes+425
Harry Higgs+600
Ryan Fox+1200
Danny Walker+1400
Victor Perez+1400
Alex Smalley+2500
Norman Xiong+2500
Davis Shore+2800
Ben Silverman+4500
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Final Round 2-Balls - E. Van Rooyen / W. Zalatoris
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Will Zalatoris-115
Erik Van Rooyen+125
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - A. Rai / B. Griffin
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Aaron Rai-110
Ben Griffin+120
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - C. Davis / A. Scott
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Adam Scott+100
Cam Davis+110
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - B. Campbell / P. Rodgers
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Brian Campbell+125
Patrick Rodgers-115
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - T. Detry / R. Gerard
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Ryan Gerard+100
Thomas Detry+110
Tie+750
Final Round 2-Balls - R. Hojgaard / A. Noren
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Alex Noren+110
Rasmus Hojgaard+100
Tie+750
Final Round 3-Balls - J. Svensson / A. Svensson / M. Manassero
Type: Final Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Jesper Svensson+150
Adam Svensson+180
Matteo Manassero+200
Final Round Match-Ups - G. Woodland / R. Hojgaard
Type: Final Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Rasmus Hojgaard-125
Gary Woodland+105
Final Round 2-Balls - G. Woodland / D. Thompson
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Davis Thompson-125
Gary Woodland+140
Tie+750
Final Round Match-Ups - D. Thompson / M. Fitzpatrick
Type: Final Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Davis Thompson-120
Matt Fitzpatrick+100
Final Round 3-Balls - S. Fisk / J. Bramlett / A. Rozner
Type: Final Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Antoine Rozner+175
Joseph Bramlett+175
Steven Fisk+175
Final Round 3-Balls - T. Humphrey / M. McGreevy / H. Springer
Type: Final Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Max McGreevy+130
Hayden Springer+145
Theo Humphrey+300
Final Round Score - Jordan Spieth
Type: Final Round Score - Status: OPEN
Over 67.5-155
Under 67.5+120
Final Round 2-Balls - J. Spieth / J.J. Spaun
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
J J Spaun+130
Jordan Spieth-120
Tie+750
Final Round Match-Ups - B. Hun An / J.J. Spaun
Type: Final Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Byeong Hun An-110
J J Spaun-110
Final Round Match-Ups - D. Berger / J. Spieth
Type: Final Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Jordan Spieth-115
Daniel Berger-105
Final Round 3-Balls - C. Hadley / B. Silverman / W. Chandler
Type: Final Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Ben Silverman+130
Chesson Hadley+200
Will Chandler+210
Final Round 3-Balls - T. Kanaya / B. Haas / A. Albertson
Type: Final Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Takumi Kanaya+100
Anders Albertson+230
Bill Haas+240
Final Round 2-Balls - B. Hun An / M. Fitzpatrick
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Byeong Hun An+100
Matt Fitzpatrick+110
Tie+750
Final Round 3-Balls - F. Molinari / G. Duangmanee / L. List
Type: Final Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Luke List+130
Francesco Molinari+170
George Duangmanee+250
Final Round 3-Balls - N. Xiong / D. Walker / A. Smalley
Type: Final Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Alex Smalley+125
Danny Walker+185
Norman Xiong+230
Final Round Score - Collin Morikawa
Type: Final Round Score - Status: OPEN
Over 67.5+125
Under 67.5-165
Final Round 2-Balls - X. Schauffele / C. Morikawa
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Collin Morikawa+100
Xander Schauffele+110
Tie+750
Final Round 3-Balls - V. Perez / R. Fox / D. Shore
Type: Final Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Victor Perez+135
Ryan Fox+145
Davis Shore+280
Final Round 3-Balls - A. Putnam / A. Tosti / M. Feuerstein
Type: Final Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Alejandro Tosti+120
Andrew Putnam+140
Michael Feuerstein+350
Final Round Score - Daniel Berger
Type: Final Round Score - Status: OPEN
Over 67.5-145
Under 67.5+110
Final Round 2-Balls - S.W. Kim / D. Berger
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Daniel Berger-115
Si Woo Kim+125
Tie+750
Final Round Match-Ups - K. Bradley / S.W. Kim
Type: Final Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Keegan Bradley-120
Si Woo Kim+100
Final Round 3-Balls - C. Young / H. Higgs / M. Hughes
Type: Final Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Mackenzie Hughes+110
Carson Young+190
Harry Higgs+260
Final Round 2-Balls - M. Homa / A. Bhatia
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Akshay Bhatia-110
Max Homa+120
Tie+750
Final Round Match-Ups - A. Bhatia / S. Stevens
Type: Final Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Akshay Bhatia-110
Sam Stevens-110
Final Round Match-Ups - M. Homa / R. Fowler
Type: Final Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Rickie Fowler-115
Max Homa-105
Final Round Score - Sam Stevens
Type: Final Round Score - Status: OPEN
Over 68.5+105
Under 68.5-135
Final Round 2-Balls - S. Stevens / S. Jaeger
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Stephan Jaeger+110
Sam Stevens+100
Tie+750
Final Round Match-Ups - C. Conners / S. Jaeger
Type: Final Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Corey Conners-140
Stephan Jaeger+120
Final Round Score - Keegan Bradley
Type: Final Round Score - Status: OPEN
Over 68.5+135
Under 68.5-175
Final Round Six Shooter - P. Cantlay / SJ Im / S. Burns / K. Bradley / K. Mitchell / T. Finau
Type: Final Round Six Shooter - Status: OPEN
Patrick Cantlay+320
Sungjae Im+400
Keegan Bradley+425
Sam Burns+425
Keith Mitchell+500
Tony Finau+500
Final Round 2-Balls - K. Bradley / J.T. Poston
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
J.T. Poston+120
Keegan Bradley-110
Tie+750
Final Round Six Shooter - J. Bridgeman / H. English / E. Cole / N. Taylor / R. Fowler / C. Young
Type: Final Round Six Shooter - Status: OPEN
Jacob Bridgeman+375
Eric Cole+400
Harris English+400
Nick Taylor+425
Cameron Young+450
Rickie Fowler+475
Final Round 2-Balls - C. Young / E. Cole
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Cameron Young+110
Eric Cole+100
Tie+750
Final Round Score - Corey Conners
Type: Final Round Score - Status: OPEN
Over 67.5-155
Under 67.5+120
Final Round Score - Patrick Cantlay
Type: Final Round Score - Status: OPEN
Over 67.5+105
Under 67.5-135
Final Round 2-Balls - P. Cantlay / C. Conners
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Corey Conners+115
Patrick Cantlay-105
Tie+750
Final Round Score - Harris English
Type: Final Round Score - Status: OPEN
Over 68.5+115
Under 68.5-150
Final Round Score - Rickie Fowler
Type: Final Round Score - Status: OPEN
Over 68.5-110
Under 68.5-120
Final Round 2-Balls - H. English / R. Fowler
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Harris English-105
Rickie Fowler+115
Tie+750
Final Round Match-Ups - K. Mitchell / H. English
Type: Final Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Harris English-110
Keith Mitchell-110
Final Round Score - Tommy Fleetwood
Type: Final Round Score - Status: OPEN
Over 67.5-120
Under 67.5-110
Final Round Score - Jacob Bridgeman
Type: Final Round Score - Status: OPEN
Over 68.5+105
Under 68.5-135
Final Round Six Shooter - R. McIlroy / J. Thomas / T. Fleetwood / S. Straka / H. Matsuyama / S. Lowry
Type: Final Round Six Shooter - Status: OPEN
Rory McIlroy+260
Justin Thomas+400
Tommy Fleetwood+475
Hideki Matsuyama+500
Sepp Straka+500
Shane Lowry+500
Final Round 2-Balls - J. Bridgeman / T. Fleetwood
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Jacob Bridgeman+145
Tommy Fleetwood-130
Tie+750
Final Round Match-Ups - N. Taylor / J. Bridgeman
Type: Final Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Jacob Bridgeman-110
Nick Taylor-110
Final Round Score - Rory McIlroy
Type: Final Round Score - Status: OPEN
Over 66.5-120
Under 66.5-110
Final Round Score - Tony Finau
Type: Final Round Score - Status: OPEN
Over 67.5-145
Under 67.5+110
Final Round 2-Balls - T. Finau / R. McIIroy
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Rory McIlroy-180
Tony Finau+200
Tie+750
Final Round Match-Ups - S. Burns / T. Finau
Type: Final Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Sam Burns-115
Tony Finau-105
Final Round Match-Ups - J. Thomas / R. McIIroy
Type: Final Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Rory McIlroy-135
Justin Thomas+115
Final Round Score - Sungjae Im
Type: Final Round Score - Status: OPEN
Over 67.5-155
Under 67.5+120
Final Round Score - Sam Burns
Type: Final Round Score - Status: OPEN
Over 67.5-145
Under 67.5+110
Final Round 2-Balls - S. Burns / S. Im
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Sam Burns+110
Sungjae Im+100
Tie+750
Final Round Match-Ups - S. Straka / S. Im
Type: Final Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Sepp Straka-120
Sungjae Im+100
Final Round Score - Hideki Matsuyama
Type: Final Round Score - Status: OPEN
Over 67.5-130
Under 67.5+100
Final Round Score - Nick Taylor
Type: Final Round Score - Status: OPEN
Over 68.5+115
Under 68.5-150
Final Round 2-Balls - H. Matsuyama / N. Taylor
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Hideki Matsuyama-135
Nick Taylor+150
Tie+750
Final Round Match-Ups - H. Matsuyama / S. Lowry
Type: Final Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Hideki Matsuyama-110
Shane Lowry-110
Final Round Score - Justin Thomas
Type: Final Round Score - Status: OPEN
Over 67.5+135
Under 67.5-175
Final Round Score - Keith Mitchell
Type: Final Round Score - Status: OPEN
Over 68.5+105
Under 68.5-135
Final Round 2-Balls - J. Thomas / K. Mitchell
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Justin Thomas-150
Keith Mitchell+165
Tie+750
Final Round Score - Sepp Straka
Type: Final Round Score - Status: OPEN
Over 67.5-145
Under 67.5+110
Final Round Score - Shane Lowry
Type: Final Round Score - Status: OPEN
Over 67.5-130
Under 67.5+100
Final Round 2-Balls - S. Straka / S. Lowry
Type: Including Tie - Status: OPEN
Sepp Straka+105
Shane Lowry+105
Tie+750
Major Specials 2025
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+450
Scottie Scheffler+450
Bryson DeChambeau+1100
Ludvig Aberg+1800
Justin Thomas+2000
Xander Schauffele+2000
Collin Morikawa+2200
Jon Rahm+2200
Joaquin Niemann+3500
Brooks Koepka+4000
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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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Ryder Cup match previews: Friday morning FoursomesRyder Cup match previews: Friday morning Foursomes

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. – The talk is done, the practice finished and the game plans are set. The Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits is finally ready to begin. RELATED: Power Rankings | How format works | Five burning questions Will Europe maintain its recent dominance, having won four of the last five Cups? Or can the youthful U.S. squad change its country’s fortunes? Play begins Friday with four Foursomes matches. The format, otherwise known as alternate shot, has been fruitful for Europe. It last lost a Foursomes session in 2012, when several members of the U.S. Team were still in college. Europe has won five of the last six Foursomes sessions, and tied the other, and outscored the United States, 18.5-5.5, in that span. Europe has won the Friday Foursomes in each of the last three Cups by a margin of 10.5-1.5. Will we see that trend continue or can the U.S. turn the tide? U.S. Captain Steve Stricker and his European counterpart, Padraig Harrington, have announced their lineups. Let’s take a look at the matches that will begin this year’s Ryder Cup. 7:05 a.m. CT: Jordan Spieth/Justin Thomas (USA) vs. Jon Rahm/Sergio Garcia (Europe) 7:21 a.m. CT: Dustin Johnson/Collin Morikawa (USA) vs. Paul Casey/Viktor Hovland (Europe) 7:37 a.m. CT: Brooks Koepka/Daniel Berger (USA) vs. Lee Westwood/Matt Fitzpatrick (Europe) 7:53 a.m. CT: Patrick Cantlay/Xander Schauffele (USA) vs. Rory McIlroy/Ian Poulter (Europe) Now let’s take a closer look at Friday morning’s matches: MATCH 1 Jordan Spieth/Justin Thomas (USA) vs. Sergio Garcia/Jon Rahm (Europe), 8:05 a.m. Eastern Spieth and Thomas have a strong bond that dates to childhood and they’ll need it against the modern-day edition of the Spanish Armada, which features two of the TOUR’s best ball-strikers. The Thomas-Spieth pairing was one of the few bright spots in Paris three years ago, as the two Americans teamed to go 3-1, including 1-1 in Foursomes. Thomas’ strong iron play – he ranked third in Strokes Gained: Approach last season –pairs well with Spieth’s short-game wizardry. Rahm is the World No. 1, but this will be his Ryder Cup debut in this format (he went 0-2 in Four-balls three years ago). He’s teaming with a player who’s a master at this format. The European team’s steady ball-striking will make them a formidable opponent. Both Spaniards ranked in the top three in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee in 2021. Rahm was eighth in Strokes Gained: Approach, as well, and we all know what Garcia can do with his iron play. Player records: Spieth (7-5-2 overall; 2-1-2 Foursomes); Thomas (4-1-0 overall; 1-1-0 Foursomes); Garcia (22-12-7; 10-4-3 Foursomes); Rahm (1-2-0 overall; 0-0-0 Foursomes)

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Billy Horschel, Talor Gooch share lead at Arnold Palmer InvitationalBilly Horschel, Talor Gooch share lead at Arnold Palmer Invitational

ORLANDO, Fla. — Billy Horschel got a rare break at Bay Hill on a day that punished so many others, leading to a birdie on the 18th hole Saturday for a 1-under 71 that gave him a share of the lead with Talor Gooch in the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. Horschel was buried in deep rough behind the 18th green and facing a fast chip down the hill. His foot was on a sprinkler head and he received a free drop. From the collar, he was able to use putter and his 30-foot putt trickled into the cup. “To make that putt on 18, to shoot 1 under on a really tough day is really satisfying,” he said. It was a happy moment, and those were hard to find in a third round where Viktor Hovland lost a four-shot lead at the turn, Matt Jones heaved his putter into the water and Rory McIlroy lost momentum with a tee shot out-of-bounds. Scottie Scheffler managed to make a charge. After missing three straight par putts from 6 feet or closer to cap off his front nine, Scheffler made three birdies and a 20-foot eagle for a 31 on the back for a 68, matching the low score of the day. He started the day eight shots behind. He ended it two shots out of the lead. The final group was making the turn when Scheffler finished and he was asked if his round put him back into the tournament. “I didn’t really feel out of it at the beginning of the day,” Scheffler said. He and everyone else had an idea of what to expect on a course that is a strong test in any condition. Add gusts of about 15 mph and greens so baked by the sun there was barely any grass, and this was all the best players in golf could handle. Gooch, the Oklahoman who won his first PGA TOUR title in the final event of last year, was up to the task. He rolled in a 35-foot birdie putt on the tough 15th, followed with a 15-foot birdie on the next hole and was in the lead until a tee shot into ankle-deep rough on the final hole kept him from reaching the green. Gooch and Horschel were at 7-under 209. Hovland suffered as much as anyone. He three-putted from 10 feet on the par-3 second hole, only to recover by holing a bunker shot for eagle on the par-5 sixth with his ball on a slight downslope in the sand and not much green between his ball and the hole. The back nine turned into a slow bleed, twice taking three putts for bogey and missing the fairway on two other holes. He shot 40 on the back nine for a 75. Still, he was only one shot behind. Former U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland overcame three bogeys for a round of 70 and was three shots behind, followed by the group of Chris Kirk (68), Graeme McDowell (69) and McIlroy, whose 76 could have been worse. “I feel like I’ve never had as many 6-footers for bogeys as I’ve had today,” he said. McIlroy, the 18-hole leader, ran off back-to-back birdies early on the back nine and was making up ground until he lost a tee shot to the right on the 15th hole that bounced into a backyard. That led to double bogey, and he bogeyed the last two holes to fall back. “It’s so tough out there. It’s so tricky. It’s just on knife’s edge,” McIlroy said. “You’re literally talking like feet — 2 feet here, 2 feet there from 200 yards can make a huge difference in where the ball ends up.” He was among eight players separated by four shots going into the final round, and with conditions expected to be the same, Bay Hill should be primed for a shootout among survivors. Jones, meanwhile, hit a brilliant approach on the 11th hole to 8 feet only to have the putt slide off line. He reached the cup about the time the golf ball trickled there, tapped in with one hand and then heaved his putter into the lake. Max Homa made an ace on the par-3 14th hole with a pitching wedge from 163 yards, meaning a $200,000 donation by presenting sponsor Mastercard to the Arnold & Winning Palmer Foundation. A year ago on Saturday at Bay Hill, Homa was playing with Jazz Janewattananond when the Thai made a hole-in-one on the 14th hole.

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