The RSM Classic, third round: Leaderboard, tee times, TV schedule

LAS VEGAS – It wasn’t supposed to take this long for Peter Uihlein to hold his first 54-hole lead on the PGA TOUR. Heck, it wasn’t supposed to take this long for him to be a regular on the PGA TOUR. But for the third straight day he finds himself in at least a share of the lead at the Shriners Hospital for Children Open chasing a win that many had expected would come earlier. Uihlein is a former world No. 1 amateur who grew up in and around the game of golf with his father Wally being the CEO of the Acushnet Company (comprises Titleist, Footjoy, Pinnacle and Scotty Cameron brands). He won the U.S. Amateur in 2010 and the predictions of a long and storied successful TOUR career came thick and fast. But it didn’t pan out that way and some eight years later the now 29-year-old sleeps on the brink of his big moment. Instead of earning his way on the PGA TOUR as a youngster Uihlein battled first through Europe’s secondary Challenge Tour before moving on to the European Tour. A win at the 2013 Madeira Islands Open secured a place there but he always envisaged a crack at his home TOUR. It wasn’t until a handful of starts in the 2016-17 season earned him enough non-member points to play the Web.com Tour finals that his chance would be realized. Uihlein won the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship and graduated. Last season he finished 64th in the FedExCup with three fifth place finishes his best efforts. Now he has his best look at a win but he must do so while surrounded by players who have already tasted PGA TOUR success and as such may face less nerves on Sunday. “This is all a step in the right direction of where I want to get to. If I want to become a top player in the world, win tournaments, this is what you got to do,â€� Uihlein said. “You have got to get yourself in contention in the final group on Sunday. I’m looking forward to it and should be a lot of the fun.â€� Tied with Uihlein at the top is Bryson DeChambeau who is already a four-time winner including three wins in 2018. DeChambeau backed up his win at The Memorial Tournament with victory in the opening two FedExCup Playoff events. As such he has huge confidence he can make it career win No. 5 at TPC Summerlin. “Knowing that if I can just stay in it and keep executing great shots every single time, I’m going to be tough to beat. That’s just the way it is,â€� DeChambeau said. “I’m striking it really well right now, and I think people know it. Next in line is Lucas Glover, starting one back. His resume has three wins on it, one of which is the 2009 U.S. Open. While he hasn’t won on TOUR since the Wells Fargo Championship in 2011 Glover was third at TPC Summerlin just two years ago having held the 54-hole lead. “I like it here. You got to drive it pretty good and you got to hit your numbers,â€� Glover said. “If I’m striking my irons well I tend to do that. Par-5s are all draw tee shots if you choose, and that’s good for me. Just one of those courses that feel good when I drive up every day, so it’s good.â€� Tied in fourth place and just two back are defending champion Patrick Cantlay and Robert Streb. Cantlay is buoyed by his efforts 12 months ago while Streb won The RSM Classic in 2015 and as such also holds experience to pull from. “It’s great to be around a place that you have good memories from. I think that’s a big thing out here,â€� Cantlay said. “Also knowing where to hit it, where to miss it, and where your ball is going to be no matter what shot you hit. That’s important. And I feel comfortable around here. Looking forward to tomorrow.â€� Rounding out the top six on the leaderboard is Cameron Champ. Last week’s winner at the Sanderson Farms Championship is just three off the pace. That experience, where he lost a four-shot cushion before storming home to win by as many, has him primed for the chase. “To be able to do what I did down the stretch … just the experience alone for me will help,â€� Champ said. “It was the first time in that situation for me, and the same thing this week (trying to back up a win). “I’m trying to just blur everything out and just focus on this event. Feel like I’ve done that well the first three days, and tomorrow just go for it.â€� One thing is clear given the talent up top. If Uihlein does prevail he certainly will have earned it.

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An in-form Tony Finau and a hungry Justin Thomas are the early favorites with bettors amongst an elite field in this week’s Hero World Challenge at Albany in the Bahamas hosted by Tiger Woods. While the PGA TOUR’s next full-field event comes in January, that doesn’t mean golf betting has to wait until then. The limited field of 20 is stacked with 16 of the top 21 in the Official World Golf Rankings, with the final four players all inside the top 33. Woods was originally scheduled to play but withdrew earlier in the week due to plantar fasciitis in his foot. When it comes to wagering on the winner, bettors seem to be looking at a combination of history at this event and current form. As of Tuesday at the BetMGM online sportsbook, Thomas (+1200) and Finau (+900) were two of the most popular players. Finau has the biggest handle (14.6%) on the second-most tickets (10.2%), while Thomas has the second-biggest handle (11%) on the most tickets (12%). Thomas finished T5 at the event a year ago, highlighted by a final-round 64, and also finished T5 in 2019 (the 2020 event was canceled due to COVID-19) to be a combined 27-under at Albany in his last two starts. He has played once since being part of the victorious U.S. Presidents Cup team, finishing T40 at THE CJ CUP in South Carolina in October. Finau was the runner-up in 2018 despite giving up a seven-shot advantage after the opening round, and also finished in the top 10 in the last two iterations of the event. He’s won three PGA TOUR events in his last seven starts, including his most recent effort at the Cadence Bank Houston Open. Albany typically gives up tons of birdies, and these two players make plenty of them. Thomas finished third a year ago on TOUR in birdie average (4.58 per round), while Finau was 11th (4.22). Current Handle & Tickets Handle Tony Finau – 14.6% Justin Thomas – 11% Tom Kim – 9.8% Xander Schauffele – 9.6% Cameron Young – 8.6% Tickets Justin Thomas – 12% Tony Finau – 10.2% Scottie Scheffler – 8.8% Jon Rahm – 7.7% Xander Schauffele – 7.2% Jon Rahm is the betting favorite at +500, but he’s only pulling in 7.7% of the tickets and 6.7% of the handle. This is despite the fact he won the event in 2018 and was runner up in 2019. Xander Schauffele (+1100) is another popular pick. He finished T-12 a year ago and T-10 in 2019. Lastly, Tom Kim (+1800) and Cameron Young (+2000), who are making their tournament debuts, are also in the top five in terms of handle. * Visit BetMGM.com for terms and conditions. 21+ years of age or older to wager. BetMGM is available in AZ, CO, DC, IA, IN, IL, KS, LA, MI, MS, NJ, NV, NY, PA, TN, VA, WV, or WY only. All promotions are subject to qualification and eligibility requirements. Paid in free bets. Free bets expire in 7 days from issuance. Minimum deposit required. Excludes Michigan Disassociated Persons. Please Gamble Responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO, DC, LA, NV, WY, VA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI), 1-800-GAMBLER (IN, NJ, PA & WV), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA) or call (877-8-HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), call or text the Tennessee REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN) or call 1-888-777-9696 (MS). Sports betting is void where prohibited. Promotional offers not available in Nevada. Responsible sports betting starts with a game plan. Set a budget. Keep it social. Play with friends. Learn the game and know the odds. Play with trusted, licensed operators. CLICK HERE to learn more at HaveAGamePlan.org

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LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. – In partnership with the state of New York, the USGA announced today that due to ongoing health and safety concerns from the COVID-19 pandemic, the 120th U.S. Open Championship, scheduled Sept. 14-20 at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y., will be conducted without spectators on-site. “Following months of consultation and scenario planning with local and state health officials, we have jointly decided that hosting the U.S. Open without spectators will provide the best opportunity to conduct the championship safely for all involved,” said Mike Davis, CEO of the USGA. “We will miss the excitement of the fans and what their presence brings to the championship. We look forward to welcoming them again to future U.S. Opens.” “We have come a long way in the fight against COVID-19, and I am so proud of New Yorkers, who rose to the occasion and bent the curve,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said. “I am pleased to welcome the USGA for the U.S. Open Championship at Winged Foot Golf Club this September, and while the tournament will look different this year with no fans and enhanced safety protocols, this event is a welcome sight for sports fans across the country and will help restore a sense of normalcy as we build back better than before.” “We are thankful to all of the local and state officials as well as the members and staff at Winged Foot Golf Club who worked so hard to try to help us accomplish our goal of hosting fans this year,” said Davis. “We appreciate all of their efforts and while we are disappointed, we know it was the right decision to make for the community and for the players.” The USGA announced on April 6 that the 120th U.S. Open, which was scheduled to be held June 18-21 on Winged Foot’s West Course, had been postponed to Sept. 17-20, and it announced in June that the championship would be conducted without traditional qualifying. “This will not be a typical U.S. Open in several respects,” said John Bodenhamer, the USGA’s senior managing director of Championships. “Would it have been easier to simply cancel or even move the 2020 championship rather than play it in what has been the epicenter of the virus in our country? Possibly. But all of us at the USGA know how much the U.S. Open matters, and we weren’t willing to give up on playing it at Winged Foot Golf Club so easily. We are very proud to give our competitors and champions a platform to chase their dreams. Their perseverance motivates us, in a year when such tenacity means so much.” “While we know we can’t replicate the on-site experience, we will be working diligently to bring the championship to life for fans through our partnership with NBCUniversal and on our digital platforms,” said Craig Annis, chief brand officer of the USGA. “We hope that crowning a U.S. Open champion in September can serve as an inspiration and a small respite from world events to the millions of people who will watch at home and follow on their mobile devices.”

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