Pereira leads PGA Championship; Tiger withdraws

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Mito Pereira spent four hours soaring and sliding at Southern Hills in the cold and wind, calling it the biggest round of his life Saturday in the PGA Championship and one that gave him an idea of what to expect Sunday.

Pereira soared to a five-shot lead. He nearly lost it all in six holes. And when a third round as fickle as the wind finally ended, the 27-year-old from Chile stood on the cusp of fame.

He made three birdies over his last six holes, the final hole from just outside 25 feet that he called a bonus, giving him a 1-under 69 and a three-shot lead over Matt Fitzpatrick of England and Will Zalatoris.

“It's by far the biggest tournament I play, the biggest round of golf. And tomorrow is going to be even bigger,” Pereira said. “Just try and keep it simple. Try to do the things I've been doing. Try to not even look at the people that's around me.”

His inspiration for moments like this is Tiger Woods, who won't be around. Woods, limping badly on his battered right leg from his car crash 15 months ago, withdrew from the final round after posting a 79, his highest score ever in a PGA Championship.

It was his first withdrawal from a major in his pro career, and it was not a big surprise. The pain was more noticeable than it was on the weekend at the Masters, and he was 21 shots behind.

Pereira was at 9-under 201 as he tries to become Chile's first major champion and the third player from South America.

If he lacks experience — this is his first PGA and only second major — so do the players closest to him. None of the top six have ever won a major. The leading four players have yet to win on the PGA Tour, the toughest circuit in golf.

Fitzpatrick birdied his last two holes for a 67 and is the most tested of the bunch with his seven European tour victories and two Ryder Cup teams.

Zalatoris also had a late recovery, though his early damage was significant. Leading by one at the start of the round, confident as ever that his game is suited for the toughest tests, Zalatoris dropped four shots in seven holes to fall five behind.

He was helped by Pereira running into trouble, too — it seemed everyone did — by making four bogeys in a five-hole stretch around the turn. Zalatoris had a pair of birdies on the back nine for a 73 and was still very much in the mix.

“I was pretty frustrated with the start but I would rather have a frustrating start and good finish. It's good momentum heading into tomorrow,” Zalatoris said.

Pereira, a PGA Tour rookie, was the Korn Ferry Tour player of the year in 2021.