PGA Championship: Fitzpatrick in contention; Pereira leads

Matt Fitzpatrick of England is three strokes behind surprise leader Mito Pereira heading into Sunday’s final round of the US PGA Championship in Oklahoma.

Fitzpatrick, who earlier this week declared the Southern Hills course was “not really my cup of tea,” is tied for second after a three-under 67.

He’s tied with Will Zalatoris, who led after the second round but then shot a 73.

After a one-under 69, Pereira, who is playing in his second major, closed with a birdie to get to nine-under.

On a frigid Saturday, scoring conditions were difficult, with the majority of the field traveling in the wrong direction on golf’s customary moving day.

With the exception of a few well-constructed rounds from Fitzpatrick, Seamus Power of Ireland, and American Cameron Young, who all shot 67s, those who could hold on to what they had fared better.

Young’s round included an eagle at the par-four 17th, putting him one stroke ahead of Mexican Abraham Ancer, who shot a level-par 70, and three strokes ahead of Power.

With none of the top six players have won a major, the final day promises to be exciting.

Webb Simpson of the United States defied the trend by shooting the lowest round of the day, a five-under 65, which moved him to one under par and a 54-place rise up the leaderboard.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, who has won this tournament twice, went the other way after a four-over 74 that included double and triple bogeys on two of the par-three holes.

It puts him on par for the round, nine strokes behind the leader.

Tiger Woods, who was playing in his second major since a life-threatening automobile accident in February 2021, suffered as well, completing the day at 12 over par after a nine-over 79, and withdrawing from the tournament.