WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play match previews Day 5

Round 3 of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship takes place Saturday from Port Royal GC. Ben Crane tops a crowded leaderboard to take a one-shot lead into the weekend. Here’s everything you need to follow the action. Leaderboard Tee times HOW TO FOLLOW: Television: Thursday-Sunday, 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. ET (Golf Channel) Radio: Thursday-Friday, 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m. ET. Saturday-Sunday, 12 p.m.-4:30 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com/liveaudio) MUST READS Ben Crane shoots 62 to lead by one at Butterfield Bermuda Championship Forgotten clubs and a missed flight, Adam Schenk’s bizarre start in Bermuda TOUR winner Aaron Baddeley contending in Bermuda after Monday qualifying Nick Jones honoring father’s legacy at Butterfield Bermuda Championship Inside John Daly’s wild golf bag and recent gear changes Five Things to Know: Port Royal GC

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Collin Morikawa grew up 30 miles from The Riviera Country Club but had no interest in visiting one of the most pristine courses in the country. Now, the 25-year-old five-time PGA TOUR winner can’t get enough of it. And BetMGM bettors can’t get enough of Morikawa this week at The Genesis Invitational. “It was never my interest when I was a kid to go and watch golf. That was just never my thing. I went a couple times to Sherwood, but other than that I never came here,” Morikawa said prior to last year’s tournament. “I loved playing Riv in the U.S. Am [in 2017], I liked it, but last year I actually fell in love and I know why my caddie [J.J. Jakovac] loves this golf course. I keep falling in love with it and it just makes it a little more special being in L.A.,” he added. Morikawa’s love for the 96-year-old course isn’t reciprocated, however; he lost in the Round of 16 at the 2017 U.S. Amateur and has finishes of 26th and 43rd in two appearances at The Genesis Invitational. Half of his Genesis rounds ended with a 73, including the final round in 2020 after going 67-68 on Friday and Saturday to sit in 17th place, just five strokes behind the leaders. Despite the relative lack of success and experience the public is pounding Morikawa at the BetMGM sportsbook. His eight PGA TOUR rounds at Riviera are tied for 69th-most in this year’s field and he hasn’t played in five weeks, which was a fifth-place finish in the Sentry Tournament of Champions. As of Tuesday, Feb. 15, 11.8% of the tournament’s total handle (on a field-leading 8.5% of tickets) is on Morikawa (+2000) to win his first event since the 2021 Open Championship. Handle: Collin Morikawa – 11.8% Dustin Johnson – 8.5% Will Zalatoris – 7.6% Jon Rahm – 7.1% Justin Thomas – 6.1% Patrick Cantlay – 6.1% Tickets: Collin Morikawa – 8.5% Will Zalatoris – 5.9% Dustin Johnson – 5.4% Patrick Cantlay – 5.4% Justin Thomas – 5.3% Despite the heavy action – and position as BetMGM’s biggest liability – Morikawa’s odds haven’t moved, nor have the odds for defending champion Max Homa (+4000). Elsewhere, it’s been an unusually active market. Since the Genesis Invitational odds opened on Sunday night, the odds for more than 20 golfers have moved, including Cantlay (+1200 to +1100), Johnson (+1800 to +1600) and Rory McIlroy (+1800 to +2000). You can view updated golf odds for The Genesis Invitational winner, top American finisher, wire-to-wire winner, and more at the online sportsbook. * Visit BetMGM.com for terms and conditions. 21+ years of age or older to wager. BetMGM available in AZ, CO, DC, IA, IN, 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.

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PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Rickie Fowler’s swing is off-kilter, and so his title defense at The Honda Classic is over. One bad hole almost led Rory McIlroy to have a free weekend, as well. Fowler bogeyed six of his first nine holes Friday en route to a 76. He has two missed cuts and a lost 54-hole lead in three starts since his victory at the Hero World Challenge, where he shot a final-round 61. “I haven’t been swinging it great … the past month, month-and-a-half,” Fowler said after his round. “It’s close. A little bit off and the wind is going to make it look like you’re a terrible weekend golfer.” McIlroy made a triple-bogey on the par-3 17th, his eighth hole Friday, but a second consecutive 72 should allow him to squeeze inside the cut line. McIlroy won the 2012 Honda Classic and lost a playoff to Russell Henley in 2014, but he has struggled since. This was his seventh consecutive over-par round at PGA National.  They weren’t the only ones to have a tough time. PGA National’s Champion Course is playing especially tough this year because of strong south Florida winds and some agronomical struggles on the greens that have led to slick putting surfaces.  Thursday’s average score was more than 2.6 strokes over par and Friday wasn’t any easier. “It seemed like every hole that we had a right-to-left wind, the pin was on the right and vice versa, so it was hard to get it close,” McIlroy said. He was even par over his final 10 holes to give himself two more rounds at PGA National. When asked what he would play for over the weekend, he replied, “World-ranking points, FedExCup points and some cash, hopefully. That’s about it.” He’ll play the weekend in his adopted hometown for the first time since 2014, but another victory seems all but out of reach.

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