Streb recovers from uneven start to keep Sea Island lead

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — Robert Streb kept his game from coming undone over the first hour Saturday and then pieced together enough birdies for a 3-under-par 67 to build a three-shot lead going into the RSM Classic’s final round.

Streb came from five shots behind when he won at Sea Island six years ago, his lone PGA Tour title. This time, he has a lead over Zach Johnson (65) and Bronson Burgoon (67) at 17-under 195.

“It wasn’t the greatest start,” Streb said, “but got out of there with a bunch of pars and tried to find some consistency, and it got better.”

Camilo Villegas pulled within one shot on the lead going to the back nine of the Seaside course until a two-shot swing at the 10th cost him momentum. Streb hit his approach to 8 feet for birdie. Villegas was on the fringe 15 feet away, ran it by 5 feet and missed that to fall three shots back.

Villegas added a bogey on the 13th, didn’t make a birdie on the back nine and settled for a 70. He was five shots behind as he tries to win for the first time in five years.

Streb had to earn back his full PGA Tour card a year ago and then missed the PGA Tour postseason for the third straight year. He kept his status because of the pandemic-shortened year, and a victory Sunday would give him an exemption through August 2023.

Even so, he knows from experience not to look ahead.

It was in 2014 when Streb closed with a 63 to make up a five-shot deficit before winning a three-man playoff. Six players were within five shots of the lead going into Sunday.