Wolff, Morikawa in position for first PGA win at 3M Open
Matthew Wolff and Collin Morikawa grew up about 30 minutes apart in California and golfed against each other in high school.
That was only a few years ago.
Sunday’s competition could result in a much bigger reward.
The first-month professionals are in prime positions for one to get his first career win at a first-time event.
Wolff shot a 9-under 62 Saturday to share the lead with Morikawa and Bryson Dechambeau at 15 under after three rounds of the inaugural 3M Open in Blaine, Minnesota.
Morikawa shot a 7-under 64 at the TPC Twin Cities; Dechambeau a 1-under 70.
Seeking his first tour win in 31 tour starts, Wyndham Clark shot a 64 and was tied with Adam Hadwin (69) one shot back.
Wolff, 20, who won the NCAA individual title on Memorial Day, is playing in his third event since turning professional, Morikawa, 22, his fourth. They’re the final pairing Sunday.
“It’s on a lot bigger stage, but our games played very well throughout the spring,” said Morikawa, named the Pac-12 Men’s Golfer of the Year in May. “We’re going to have to control our nerves, remember who we are, what brought us out here.”
“These guys are really good, and I know I’m really good, so it’s going to be fun,” Wolff said.
A bomber off the tee, Wolff is averaging 306.5 yards through three rounds with his herky-jerky swing. A change in philosophy is allowing that length to be more of an asset.
“The last couple weeks I think I’ve been a little too strategic. I got together this week with my team and I said, ‘You know what, I’m just going to rip driver and just send it.’ That’s kind of what I’ve been doing, and it’s been working out,” he said.
Wolff, who made his professional debut two weeks ago by finishing 80th at the Travelers Championship and missed the cut at last week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic, added stellar approach shots to help him record six straight birdies on Nos. 5-10. None of the putts were longer than 8 feet. Birdies at No. 13 and 15 made a round of 59 seem possible.
However, Wolff missed a 4-foot birdie putt on No. 16 and a tee shot into a bunker led to bogey on the par-3 17th. He scrambled for birdie on No. 18 after an errant tee shot. LPGA: A late slip cost Sung Hyun Park control and she fell into a four-way tie for the lead going into the final round of the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic in Oneida, Wisconsin. Park made double bogey on the par-5 15th at the Thornberry Creek of Oneida course. She missed a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole and remained tied for the lead with Shanshan Feng (65), Tiffany Joh (66), and Ariya Jutanugarn (67). They were at 20-under 196. Yealimi Noh, 17, played in the final group with Park and matched her with a 69. EUROPEAN TOUR: Robert Rock narrowly missed a 30-foot putt for eagle that would have given him the second round of 59 in European Tour history. The Englishman settled for a birdie, a 10-under 60 and first place at 13 under after the third round of the Irish Open in Lahinch. Rock made 11 birdies, including six straight to close his round. Rafa Cabrera-bello (63) will join Rock in the last group, one shot off the lead, along with Eddie Pepperell (66).