US PGA Championship 2024: final round – live
Key events
Rory McIlroy started the day with an extremely slim chance of storming to the top this afternoon. He’s in dream territory now, having failed to get up and down from a bunker at 1 to slide back to -7. He has been overtaken in the rankings by defending champion Brooks Koepka, who is completing the defense of his trophy in style; five birdies and just one bogey through 15, and he is currently -8 for the week. Yesterday’s sloppy 74 and an unusually wild seven at the 10th on Friday cost him dearly.
Yes, there should be some low scores today. It’s warm and calm, and they take place on a course that’s up for grabs pretty much all week. Grayson Murray, who came so close to making an albatross hole-in-one yesterday on the shortened par-four 4th, ended his week with a 67; Dustin Johnson did one better by shooting 66. Both end the week at -6 overall.
One of the highlights of Jordan Smith’s round was an eagle at 13. This was done by holing out from 111 meters. But it’s worth noting that they moved the tee box on that hole, making it a risk-reward par four. Alejandro Tosti showed the rest of the field that fortune can favor the brave, driving over the green in spectacular fashion to set up an eagle of his own. The 27-year-old Argentinian ended the day with a 68 and completed his debut major at par level.
We’ve already had a few 62s this week. We have now had a second 64. Justin Rose shot one yesterday; this morning it is another Englishman, Jordan Smith, who comes back in 31 strokes and sets a round of seven under. He also ends his week at -7 and is the early clubhouse leader. The 31-year-old from Bath, who finished in a tie for ninth place on his PGA Championship debut in 2017, will of course not remain at the top, but that has earned him some extra money today. One of the rounds of the week!
Preamble
Going into the final round of the 1978 PGA Championship, John Mahaffey was seven shots behind. He still managed to convince Tom Watson to lift the Wanamaker Trophy, still the greatest comeback in tournament history to date. With that as a benchmark, all of the following players will be shouting victory in Valhalla this afternoon:
-15: Morikawa, Schauffele
-14: Tea Gala
-13: Lowry, DeChambeau, Hovland
-12: Rose, MacIntyre
-11: Burmester
-10: Detry, Eckroat, Engels, Finau, Thomas, Hodges
-9: Moore, Bradley, Herbert
-8: Matsuyama, Kim, McIlroy, Henley, Spieth
The outliers among them realistically have little chance… but then again, there have already been two record-breaking 62s this week, so when someone posts a low early door, you just never know. Anyway, it’s been a while since we went into the Sunday of a major with this many players with a heartfelt shout. This promises to be a final round for the ages, perhaps even with a play-off at the end of it. Note to all participants: NO PROCESSION PLEASE. THANK YOU! Today’s starting times are here. It is on!