Fitzpatrick brothers four clear in New Orleans as Korda eyes third Major win in Houston
Brothers Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick shot a tournament-record 15-under 57 in fourballs to take a four-shot lead into the final round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
The English pair lead on 30-under at TPC Louisiana from Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer, who shot 62, and Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat, who carded a 61.
Seamus Power and his German partner Matti Schmid briefly held the lead when they played their first seven holes in five under on a course softened by an overnight lightning storm.
Preferred lies were in effect, but they failed to push on significantly and signed for an 8-under 64 that left them tied for 16th on 21-under heading into the foursomes today.
World number three Matt Fitzpatrick, winner of the Valspar Championship and the RBC Heritage in recent weeks, did most of the heavy lifting on the front nine before his younger brother took his birdie count for the day to seven with five counting birdies on the back nine as he seeks a win that would give him a PGA Tour exemption until the end of 2028.
“I didn't really do much the first nine holes,” said the recent winner of the Hero Indian Open, of their seven-under front nine. “I just kind of just let him do his thing.
“Yeah, it was pretty cool to watch. You know, playing alongside my brother, who happens also to be one of the best players in the world is pretty fun.
“When he's playing well, it's pretty cool to watch.”
Matt added, “Yeah, an amazing day. Amazing day. Probably not kind of sunk in how well we played today, if I'm honest.
“Yeah, it was just hole after hole. The score, I only just realised we finished with five in a row.
“You know, you are thinking about the next shot, so you're not really thinking about that. Yeah, a special day.”
The pair surged into contention with a 65 in the foursomes on Friday and hope to finish the job today.
“For me, it feels like no matter what happens tomorrow, it's going to be a great week regardless,” Alex said.
At the Chevron Championship, Nelly Korda equalled the event's 54-hole scoring record to take a five-shot lead into the final round in Houston.
After opening with two rounds of 65 at Memorial Park, the 27-year-old American carded a third round 70 to lead on 16 under par from Thailand's Patty Tavatanakit, who shot 69.
A second Chevron title in three seasons, and a third Major win, would take Korda back to the top of the world rankings after current world number one, Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul, missed the cut.
“The front nine was great," said Korda, who turned in three under before failing to shine on the greens on the back nine and heading to the putting green to practice.
“Just got to reset and hopefully it goes my way tomorrow.”
France’s Pauline Bouchard shot 67 and China's Yin Ruoning a bogey-free 66, the joint-best round of the day, to share fourth place on 10-under, six shots off the lead.
At the Investec SA Women’s Open, Slovenia’s Pia Babnik and England’s Esme Hamilton share the lead on 13-under par, one clear of England’s Cara Gainer, heading into today’s final round at Royal Cape.
Anna Foster was tied 24th on three under after a 75, with Olivia Mehaffey (75) and Aine Donegan (76) joint 41st on one under.
Meanwhile, Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger claimed his ninth DP World Tour win today when he closed to a four under 67 to win the Volvo China Open by three shots from the UAE’s Adrian Otaegui on 19-under.
He was three shots behind overnight leader Otaegui with nine holes to play but chipped in at the 10th and birdied the 11th and 13th to draw level.
Otaegui then bogeyed the 16th to trail by a shot playing the par-five 18th, where he took seven to sign for a 71 and hand Wiesberger his first win for almost five years.
