Sunday, August 10, 2014

PGA Championship, Day Four

The leaders were supposed to all be on the course by 2 P.M. Central Time, but Louisville was hit with a torrential thunderstorm that delayed everything.  Now everyone is on the course, and the leaderboard looks like this:

1.  R. McIlroy (NIR):  -13 (54 holes)
2.  B. Wiesberger (AUT):  -12 (54)
T3.  P. Mickelson:  -11 (55)
T3.  R. Fowler:  -11 (55)
T5.  R. Palmer:  -10 (56)
T5.  H. Stenson (SWE):  -10 (56)
T5.  M. Ilonen (FIN): -10 (56)
T5.  J. Day (AUS):  -10 (55)

We have a better computer situation today, so comments will follow.  We will hope that Eric and Matthew join us.

184 comments:

  1. Henrick Stenson, who was the best player in the world last fall, birdies 1 and 3 to move to 11 under.

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  2. As if we already didn't have enough excitement, Ernie Els -- yes, Ernie Els -- has played the first nine holes in five under par, and he is now 10 under for the tournament.

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  3. Mickelson pars the difficult second hole to remain at 11 under. Fowler cannot survive a poor drive, and he takes a bogey to fall to 10 under.

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  4. The second hole is a 509 yard par 4. McIlroy hit his drive 307 yards, and is now taking a six iron for the remaining 202 yards. He ends up hole high, just off the green.

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  5. The third hole is a 188 yard par 3. Mickelson and Fowler each hit gorgeous shots to set up golden birdie chances.

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  6. Mikko Ilonen of Finland has moved to 11 under through three holes.

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  7. Here's Mickelson for birdie on 3 from about 15 feet. He MAKES IT. He's 12 under. The crowd goes wild. He now has six birdies in his last 8 holes.

    Next up is Fowler, who is only about 3 feet away. He makes it, and is back to 11 under.

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  8. Now McIlroy and Wiesberger have arrived at the short third hole. McIlroy is safely in the middle of the green. Wiesberger lofts a six iron about 25 feet beyond the hole. That should be two more pars.

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  9. Yesterday the 4th hole was only 292 yards long, but today it's 366. Mickelson, who is very pumped up, pounds a three iron far down the fairway.

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  10. Leaderboard:

    1. R. McIlroy (NIR): -13 (56)
    T2. P. Mickelson: -12 (57)
    T2. B. Wiesberger (AUT): -12 (56)
    T4. H. Stenson (SWE): -11 (58)
    T4. M. Ilonen (FIN): -11 (58)
    T4. R. Fowler: -11 (57)

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  11. Jason Day missed a short birdie putt on 3, and now misses a short birdie putt on 4. He stays at 10 under. Number3Son says, "This is not Jason's Day."

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  12. Ernie Els, on the other hand, holes a long birdie putt on 11, and he is now 11 under par.

    Meanwhile, McIlroy THREE-PUTTS the third green, and he falls back to 12 under. Wiesberger takes a par, and he is now tied for the lead at 12 under.

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  13. Wiesberger and McIlroy, now tied with Mickelson for the lead at 12 under, send long drives down the fourth fairway.

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  14. Up on the 4th green, Mickelson has a 16-foot birdie putt for the outright lead. He just misses, and stays at 12 under.

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  15. But Fowler makes his second birdie in a row, and we now have a FOUR-WAY TIE FOR THE LEAD:

    T1. P. Mickelson: -12 (58 holes)
    T1. R. Fowler: -12 (58)
    T1. R. McIlroy (NIR): -12 (57)
    T1. B. Wiesberger (AUT): -12 (57)

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  16. And now Stenson birdies the fifth hole, and now we have a FIVE-WAY TIE FOR THE LEAD.

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  17. Leaderboard:

    T1. H. Stenson (SWE): -12 (59 holes)
    T1. P. Mickelson: -12 (58)
    T1. R. Fowler: -12 (58)
    T1. R. McIlroy (NIR): -12 (57)
    T1. B. Wiesberger (AUT): -12 (57)

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  18. Wiesberger makes his fourth par in a row on the fourth hole. He's still 12 under.

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  19. McIlroy had a good run at a birdie on 4, but the putt slides just past. He taps in to remain at 12 under.

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  20. Jason Day, who apparently heard Number3Son's comment, responds by holing a long birdie putt on the difficult 5th hole. He's now 11 under, only one shot off the lead.

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  21. The Fifth Hole is a 464-yard par 4. Fowler and Mickelson both hit perfect drives and are in a good position to go after the pin.

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  22. By the way, in typical Kentucky form, the huge thunderstorm of a few hours ago has now been replaced by bright sunshine. I can feel the humidity from here.

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  23. Mickelson's drive was well-positioned, but the ball had some mud on it, and his approach shot on five soars off into the crowd right of the green.

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  24. Fowler's approach shot is also not very good. He will be chipping from the rough right of the green.

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  25. McIlroy comes to the fifth hole with the attitude of "this has gone on far enough," and he crushes a drive far down the fairway.

    Meanwhile, up near the green, Mickelson is playing from a place where the crown has been standing. He clips an absolutely perfect chip shot to within six inches, and taps in for par. He is 12 under through 5.

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  26. But Fowler does even better. He CHIPS IN FOR THIS THIRD BIRDIE IN A ROW. He now has the OUTRIGHT LEAD at 13 under.

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  27. Leaderboard:

    1. R. Fowler: -13 (59 holes)
    T2. H. Stenson (SWE): -12 (59)
    T2. P. Mickelson: -12 (59)
    T2. R. McIlroy (NIR): -12 (58)
    T2. B. Wiesberger (AUT): -12 (58)
    T6. E. Els (RSA): -11 (67)
    T6. M. Ilonen (FIN): -11 (59)
    T6. J. Day (AUS): -11 (59)

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  28. The 6th hole is a long and difficult par 4, and it is taking a long time for the players to work through it. Mickelson and Fowler are in the 6th fairway, waiting for Oosthuizen and Day to finish the 6th hole.

    Day, who just made a huge putt on 5, misses a two-footer for par on 6, and he falls back to 10 under.

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  29. Fowler finally gets to play, and skulls a low shot up the hill. It ends up on the edge of the green. Mickelson's approach goes even further right, and he will have a long chip shot across the green.

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  30. Stenson makes two strong shots on the par-5 seventh, and he will have a forty-footer for eagle.

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  31. On six, Mickelson saves par to stay at 12 under. Fowler saves par to remain at 13 under.

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  32. Stenson cannot make eagle at 7, but he taps in the birdie to move into a tie for the lead at 13 under.

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  33. McIroy is now in trouble, as his approach shot on six goes into a greenside bunker. Wiesberger drove into the rough, and lays up about 50 yards from the green with his second shot.

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  34. Stenson pulls his drive on the par-3 8th, and the ball lands in a bunker. He looks suitably annoyed.

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  35. Meanwhile, Fowler and Mickelson -- having survived the difficult 5th and 6th holes -- now find themselves at the par-5 7th. They both take the more aggressive line down the left side. Fowler's ball stops dead in the fairway, but Mickelson appears to be in the rough.

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  36. Leaderboard:

    T1. H. Stenson (SWE): -13 (61 holes)
    T1. R. Fowler: -13 (60)
    T3. P. Mickelson: -12 (60)
    T3. R. McIlroy (NIR): -12 (59)
    T3. B. Wiesberger (AUT): -12 (59)
    T6. E. Els (RSA): -11 (69)
    T6. M. Ilonen (FIN): -11 (61)

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  37. Wiesberger and McIlroy cannot save their pars on six. They both fall back to 11 under. McIlroy is two over for the day, and the CBS commentators are wondering if he is getting frustrated by the slow pace of play.

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  38. Stenson, on the other hand, does get up and down from that bunker near the 8th green, and he remains at 13 under.

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  39. Leaderboard:

    T1. H. Stenson (SWE): -13 (62 holes)
    T1. R. Fowler: -13 (60)
    3. P. Mickelson: -12 (60)
    T4. E. Els: -11 (69)
    T4. M. Ilonen (FIN): -11 (62)
    T4. R. McIlroy (NIR): -11 (60)
    T4. B. Wiesberger (AUT): -11 (60)

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  40. From the rough on 7, Mickelson hits a tremendous shot that sails about 240 yards and lands on the green. He will have a long putt for eagle. The crowd goes nuts.

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  41. Fowler's second shot on 7 went into a greenside bunker. He almost holed the bunker shot for an eagle, but he will have a good chance at birdie.

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  42. Mickelson is 25 feet away for eagle. He lines up the putt, strokes it, and it ALMOST GOES IN. He taps in for birdie, provoking huge cheers from the crowd, and he is now 13 under.

    Now Fowler has about four feet for birdie and the outright lead. He knocks it straight in, and now he's in first place at 14 under. More cheers from the crowd.

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  43. From the 7th fairway, McIlroy now needs to get going. He's 238 yards from the green, and he ends up in the rough near the same bunker that Fowler was just in.

    Over on 8, Jason Day holes another long birdie putt and he moves back to 10 under.

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  44. Mickelson and Fowler have reached the 173-yard par 3 eighth.

    Fowler goes first, sending his shot safely to the middle of the green.

    Mickelson hits his shot a bit too far, and it rolls into the same bunker that trapped Stenson.

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  45. Speaking of Stenson, he HOLES A LONG PUTT AT 9 TO MOVE BACK INTO A TIE FOR THE LEAD. He has birdied 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 -- and he is out in only 30 shots.

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  46. Meanwhile, McIlroy hits some type of phenomenal weird flop shot to clear the bunker on 7, and he will have a great shot at birdie.

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  47. Leaderboard:

    T1. H. Stenson (SWE): -14 (63 holes)
    T1. R. Fowler: -14 (61)
    3. P. Mickelson: -13 (61)

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  48. Mickelson hits a great shot from the bunker on 8.

    Fowler's long putt runs about three feet past the hole on 8.

    McIlroy birdies the 7th and moves back to 12 under.

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  49. Fowler and Mickelson both make pars at 8, and remain 14 under and 13 under, respectively.

    Els takes a bogey at 17 and falls back to 10 under.

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  50. Oh, I forgot to mention: Kenny Perry hit a magnificent third shot on the par-5 18, and as he walked up the fairway the crowd serenaded him with a rendition of "Happy Birthday." He knocked in the birdie to finish at 6 under par for the tournament. Great, great stuff.

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  51. For the record, Kenny Perry was born on August 10, 1960 -- so he turned 54 today.

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  52. Stenson has birdied the par-5 10th hole three times in a row, but his drive here goes off into the left rough.

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  53. McIlroy pars the par-3 eighth to remain at 12 under. Wiesberger also takes a par and he remains at 11 under.

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  54. Leaderboard:

    T1. H. Stenson (SWE): -14 (63 holes)
    T1. R. Fowler: -14 (62)
    3. P. Mickelson: -13 (62)
    4. R. McIlroy (NIR): -12 (61)

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  55. From the rough on 10, Stenson lays up about 100 yards short of the green.

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  56. From the 9th fairway, Fowler fires an 8-iron to the green. It lands in the middle of the green, about 30 feet from the hole.

    Mickelson whacks a much nicer shot, and it stops about 15 feet away.

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  57. Stenson's approach on 10 comes up about 20 feet from the hole.

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  58. Els birdies the last hole, and he finishes at 11 under. Jimmy Walker matched Els's 65, and he is also in the clubhouse at 11 under.

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  59. Fowler cannot make his long birdie putt on 9, and he stays at 14 under.

    Stenson cannot make his long birdie putt on 10, and he stays at 14 under.

    But Mickelson MAKES HIS BIRDIE PUTT on 9, and he moves into a three-way tie for the lead at 14 under.

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  60. Mikko Ilonen birdies the 10th hole, and he's now 12 under.

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  61. Mickelson whacks a wild drive down the left side of the 10th fairway, and it appears to hit someone. He's in the rough. Fowler crushes a long drive down the fairway.

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  62. I like this Mercedes-Benz demolition derby commercial. Do they still have demolition derbies? I hope they do.

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  63. Leaderboard:

    T1. H. Stenson (SWE): -14 (64 holes)
    T1. R. Fowler: -14 (63)
    T1. P. Mickelson: -14 (63)
    T4. M. Ilonen (FIN): -12 (64)
    T4. R. McIlroy (NIR): -12 (62)
    T6. E. Els (RSA): -11 (72)
    T6. J. Walker: -11 (72)
    T6. B. Wiesberger: -11 (62)

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  64. McIlroy and Wiesberger both par the 9th hole.

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  65. From the 11th fairway, Stenson lofts a beautiful shot to within about 9 feet of the hole.

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    Replies
    1. The 11th hole is a par 3, so this was Stenson's tee shot.

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  66. Fowler and Mickelson both lay up short of the 10th green.

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  67. Stenson's birdie putt on 11 looked good all the way, but it died about six inches from the hole.

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  68. On 10, Fowler's approach lands about 20 feet from the hole, but Mickelson hits a glorious shot to within about 10 feet.

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  69. On CBS, they point out that at this rate, the players will not finish until almost 9 -- but the sun sets at 8:38 Eastern.

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  70. On 10, Fowler's 28-foot putt keeps looking like it's about to stop -- but it just keeps going and going, and it FALLS INTO THE CUP. He's now all alone in first at 15 under.

    Mickelson has a chance to match him, but his shorter putt slips just past the cup, and he stays at 14 under.

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  71. Standing in the 10th fairway, McIlroy hears the cheers for Fowler's birdie. And then he whacks one of the best shots I've ever seen, a 280-yard masterpiece that rolls to within about 10 feet of the hole. He will have that for an eagle.

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  72. On 12, Stenson hears the roars from 10 -- and dumps his approach shot into a greenside bunker.

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  73. Leaderboard:

    1. R. Fowler: -15 (64 holes)
    T2. H. Stenson (SWE): -14 (65)
    T2. P. Mickelson: -14 (64)
    T4. M. Ilonen (FIN): -12 (65)
    T4. R. McIlroy (NIR): -12 (63)

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  74. Fowler's tee shot on the par 3 11th ends up about 25 feet from the hole, but Mickelson lofts a wonderful shot to within about 10 feet.

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  75. On 12, Stenson's bunker shot skitters about 12 feet past the hole.

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  76. Now here's Rory McIlroy, the only player today to reach the 10th hole in two shots. He's 7 feet away from an eagle. AND HE KNOCKS IT IN! So now he's 14 under par, only one shot off the lead.

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  77. On 11, Fowler misjudges his birdie putt, and he will have about six feet for par.

    On 12, Stenson hammers home his 12-footer for par, and he remains at 14 under.

    Back on 11, Mickelson holes his birdie putt, and he's now tied for the lead at 15 under.

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  78. Fowler saves par on 11, and he stays tied for the lead at 15 under.

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  79. McIlroy, who now looks extremely pumped up, hits a glorious tee shot on 11, and he is only about 10 feet from a birdie that would put him back in a tie for the lead.

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  80. Leaderboard:

    T1. P. Mickelson: -15 (65 holes)
    T1. R. Fowler: -15 (65)
    T3. H. Stenson (SWE): -14 (66)
    T3. R. McIlroy (NIR): -14 (64)

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  81. McIlroy cannot make his birdie putt on 11, and he remains at 14 under.

    On 12, Mickelson's approach shot misses the green, and he's off in the rough on the right of the hole.

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  82. On 12, Fowler's approach shot comes up short -- he must have picked the wrong club -- and he'll be chipping from the front rough.

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  83. McIlroy is locked in -- he crushes a long drive down the 12th fairway.

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  84. Meanwhile, Stenson BIRDIES the 13th hole, and now he's part of a three-way tie for the lead at 15 under.

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  85. Mickelson can't really do anything with his flop shot on 12, and the ball rolls about 25 feet past the hole.

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  86. Fowler's chip shot on 12 is much easier, and it rolls about three feet past.

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  87. BUT MICKELSON MAKES HIS VERY LONG PUTT TO SAVE PAR ON 12! HE STAYS AT 15 UNDER PAR.

    Fowler makes his much shorter par putt, and he's also 15 under.

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  88. Interesting. CBS announcer thinks that Rory thinks that Mickelson and maybe Folwer, too, just scored birdie-3s on the green ahead of him. Instead, they both sunk par-savers. Whatever, McIlroy whips a fantastic tee shot to the green just behind the Americans.

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  89. McIlroy was standing in the fairway when Mickelson holed that long putt for par. And then he whacks his approach shot to within about seven feet!

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  90. But McIlroy cannot make the birdie putt on 12. He remains at 14 under.

    And on the par-3 14th, Stenson has a disastrous three-putt, missing a two-footer for par. He falls back to 14 under.

    Over on the par-4 13th, the two leaders -- Fowler and Mickelson -- both reach the green in two. Fowler is about 25 feet away, but Mickelson is only about 12 feet away.

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  91. On the 335-yard 13th hole, McIlroy's tee shot ends up in a perfect position to attack the flag.

    Up on the green, Fowler makes a great putt, but it dies at the last. He taps in for par to remain at 15 under.

    Now Mickelson has a birdie putt to take the outright lead. Twelve feet. He lines it up, and it slides off to the left. He taps in, and he remains at 15 under.

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  92. Jim Furyk birdies the last hole for a 66, and he is now the clubhouse leader at 12 under par.

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  93. "On the tee, here's the Swede, Henrik Stenson. ..." And then a plug for MetLife against the blimp. Verne is such a pro. I love that syntax.

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  94. On 13, McIlroy flips a little wedge shot to within about 7 feet.

    On 15, Stenson's approach shot ends up in a greenside bunker.

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  95. Leaderboard:

    T1. P. Mickelson: -15 (67 holes)
    T1. R. Fowler: -15 (67)
    T3. H. Stenson (SWE): -14 (68)
    T3. R. McIlroy (NIR): -14 (66)

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  96. At the par-3 14th, Mickelson hits a wonderful tee shot to within about 10 feet, and then Fowler hits a wild shot that soars off into the mud far left of the hole.

    Meanwhile, Stenson makes a great bunker shot on 15. He should save par.

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  97. Now here's McIlroy with his birdie putt on 13. Nine feet. He NAILS IT, and gives us a big fist pump. He is now 15 under par, and in a three-way tie for the lead.

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  98. Stenson saves par on 15, and he's only one shot off the lead.

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  99. Fowler appears to have gotten relief from the mud, due to the casual water. He dries his very muddy ball, and then drops it in the long grass. His flop shot rolls about 15 feet past the hole, and he will have that to save par.

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  100. Stenson is playing the 16th hole, a very difficult 516-yard par four. He whacks a long drive down the fairway.

    Meanwhile, Mickelson cannot make his birdie putt on 14, and he remains at 15 under.

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  101. Now here's Fowler trying to save par. It looks like all of Jefferson County is around the 14th green. They get very quiet, and watch as Fowler's ball slides past the hole. His bogey drops him to 14 under.

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  102. McIlroy stood on the 14th tee and watched all that drama. Now he takes a 5 iron and hits the ball to within about 20 feet.

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  103. Stenson reaches the 16th green in regulation, but he's about 40 feet from the pin.

    Fowler and Mickelson both drive into the 15th fairway.

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  104. Leaderboard:

    T1. P. Mickelson: -15 (68 holes)
    T1. R. McIlroy (NIR): -15 (67)
    T3. H. Stenson (SWE): -14 (69)
    T3. R. Fowler: -14 (68)

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  105. McIlroy's putt on 14 comes up short, and he will stay at 15 under.

    Mickelson and Fowler both reach the 15th green in regulation, but neither has a great chance for birdie.

    Stenson's 42-footer on 16 comes up short, and he will probably stay at 14 under.

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  106. McIlroy is in the groove now, and he smacks a long drive down the 15th fairway.

    Up on the green, Fowler two-putts for par to remain at 14 under.

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  107. Mickelson also two-putts, and he remains at 15 under.

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  108. Fowler over last three holes over first three rounds: five pars, four birdies.

    Mickelson: one eagle, three birdies, four pars, one bogey.

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  109. The 15th hole is 422 yards long, and McIlroy's drive was 312 -- the longest drive of the day on that hole.

    Meanwhile, Stenson drives down the 17th fairway.

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  110. McIlroy's approach on 15 goes a little bit farther than he had hoped, and he'll have a 20-footer for birdie.

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  111. Mickelson misses the 16th fairway, which will leave him with a difficult second shot on this massive 516-yard par 4.

    Fowler hits a huge slice that goes all the way into the rough on the neighboring 15th fairway. I don't know if he'll be able to reach the green in two.

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  112. Now McIlroy has an 18-footer for birdie on 15, which would give him the outright lead. He leaves it short, which stuns the CBS announcers -- and me, for that matter. He is not happy.

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  113. McIlroy over last three holes over first three rounds: five pars, three birdies and one eagle.

    Stenson: three birdies, five pars, one bogey.

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  114. Now there's a funny moment because Fowler has shown up at the 15th green -- he's working his way down the 15th fairway going after his arrant shot. Verne Lundquist says that McIlroy thinks, "What are you doing here?" But McIlroy will probably not be too unhappy to see that Fowler is in an odd place.

    McIlroy taps in for par, and remains at 15 under.

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  115. From the rough on 16, Mickelson cannot reach the green in regulation. He's in the rough near a greenside bunker.

    Fowler has yet to hit his second shot, but no one is on the 16th fairway, and McIlroy hammers his drive right down the middle.

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  116. From the rough on the 15th fairway, Fowler hits a long hook that curls around the trees separating 15 and 16 and LANDS ON THE 16TH GREEN. He has an enormous putt for birdie, but it is a putt. That could have been a disaster.

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  117. Now here's Mickelson. His pitch shot from the bunker ALMOST GOES IN THE HOLE, but it rolls about seven feet past. He'll have that for a par.

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  118. With everyone seeming to get a little anxious here to get this thing over with before darkness, I just want to mention that Old, Reliable Sophomore Jim Furyk is the leader in the clubhouse at 12-under.

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  119. Fowler is about 90 feet from the hole, but he is putting. He rolls the ball to within about four feet.

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  120. Kenny Perry, by the way, remarked somewhere before this tournament began that he thought 15-under would win the tournament.

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  121. RICKIE! RICKIE! RICKIE! GO, RICKIE!!!

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  122. As Mickelson is about to putt for par, CBS tells us that he has gone 21 holes without a bogey. Of course, he had no chance after that, and his par putt comes up short. Mickelson falls to 14 under, and McIlroy is now all alone in first place at 15 under.

    Fowler makes his par putt to stay at 14 under. That was an amazing save.

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    Replies
    1. One of the CBS announcers said when that stat about Mickelson's bogey-less streak appeared, "That's not my graphic. I'm not going to hex him."

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    2. This missed putt ended up being the difference in the tournament.

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    3. I truly don't understand why TV and radio people aren't more sensitive to those viewers and listeners who worry about jinxes.

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  123. On 17, Stenson makes a great up-and-down from the rough to save par, and he stays at 14 under.

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  124. Leaderboard:

    1. R. McIlroy (NIR): -15 (69 holes)
    T2. H. Stenson (SWE): -14 (71)
    T2. P. Mickelson: -14 (70)
    T2. R. Fowler: -14 (70)

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  125. This is a major golf tournament, boys.

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  126. The 17th hole is a 463-yard par 4. Fowler hits a glorious drive -- the best shot he's hit in a while -- straight down the middle. Mickelson's drive, on the other hand, appears to be in a fairway bunker.

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  127. McIlroy has a birdie putt on 16 that could just about lock this tournament up. He gives it enough speed, but it slides past on the left. He taps in for par, and remains at 15 under. Two holes left, and about 20 minutes of daylight.

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  128. Mickelson is not in a fairway bunker, but on a rough-covered slope near the bunker. His second shot soars over the green, and he will have a tough up-and-down. Fowler reaches the green with his second shot, but he's a long way from the hole.

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  129. McIlroy, who is playing as fast as possible, whacks his drive on 17 into a fairway bunker.

    From the 18th fairway, Stenson goes for the green in two, but there's mud on his ball and the ball soars into the crowd behind the green.

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  130. On 17, Mickelson hits a spectacular chip shot from behind the green. The ball rolls to within a foot of the hole.

    Fowler now has a very long birdie putt. He doesn't quite hit it -- he was 51 feet from the hole -- and he's about four feet short.

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  131. Fowler saves par on 17 and remains at 14 under.

    Mickelson taps in for par on 17 and remains at 14 under.

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  132. Leaderboard:

    1. R. McIlroy (NIR): -15 (70 holes)
    T2. H. Stenson (SWE): -14 (71)
    T2. P. Mickelson: -14 (71)
    T2. R. Fowler: -14 (71)

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  133. Rory is going to have another knockout attempt here at No. 17.

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  134. From the gallery on 18, Stenson can only slog his third shot down to the edge of the green.

    From the fairway bunker on 17, McIlroy hits a masterful shot to within 15 feet of the pin.

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  135. I'll bet he doesn't miss this time.

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  136. They're showing McIlroy's second shot on the 10th hole, which was the only second shot all day to reach that green, and which gave him an eagle that brought him back into the tournament. That is one of the best shots I've ever seen.

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  137. Pretty dark here in Madisonville already, and we're about 110 miles west of the east side of Louisville.

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  138. Stenson makes par on 18, but that probably won't be enough to win. He finishes at 14 under par.

    Meanwhile, MCILROY MAKES HIS BIRDIE PUTT ON 17 AND MOVES TO 16 UNDER PAR. He is going to win the tournament, and he really, really deserves it.

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  139. "He has turned into a baby-faced killer," says one of the CBS guys. McIlroy is a fantastic, fantastic champion.

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  140. Leaderboard:

    1. R. McIlroy (NIR): -16 (71 holes)
    T2. H. Stenson (SWE): -14 (72)
    T2. P. Mickelson: -14 (71)
    T2. R. Fowler: -14 (71)

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  141. Mickelson and Fowler hit their drives on 18, and now it appears that they are going to play the last hole as a foursome -- it's almost completely dark.

    This suits McIlroy fine, as he's been in a hurry all day. He whacks a drive that almost -- but doesn't quite -- reach the water hazard down the right side.

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  142. I just want to say that, back in high school, I always hated it when somebody was anxious back on the tee behind me while I was still out on the fairway.

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  143. It's now so dark that the CBS announcers cannot see the ball in flight. Mickelson whacks his second shot to the edge of the 18th green, but he will not be able to make eagle from there.

    And now Fowler just barely makes the 18th green with his second shot.

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  144. Thousands and thousands of Kentuckians are waiting in the dark at the top of the hill, and they cheer wildly as Fowler and Mickelson come up the 18th fairway.

    Meanwhile, thunderstorms are approaching.

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  145. I vote Phil chip for eagle, Rickie putt for eagle and Rory birdie for championship.

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  146. McIlroy hits his second shot into a greenside bunker, about 35 feet from the hole.

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  147. OH, MY LORD, PHIL ALMOST MADE IT!!!

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  148. From just off the green, Mickelson ALMOST MAKES AN EAGLE. A magnificent shot, which misses by only a foot. He taps in for a 66, and he finishes at 15 under par.

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  149. Phil beats Furyk for the Class of '88 championship.

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  150. Fowler's eagle putt isn't as good as Mickelson's chip, and it runs about four feet past the hole. His birdie putt looks good all the way, but spins out at the last. He finishes with a 68, and he is tied with Stenson at 14 under.

    Mickelson is apparently annoyed about the fact that McIlroy played his second shot while Mickelson and Fowler were on the green, but I don't know what else the officials could do.

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    Replies
    1. I'm glad they finished today, and I like Rory fine, but I do think it's jive that they rushed everything at the end. I have experience in tournament golf--I finished 64th in the 1986 Class A KHSAA boys' golf tournament--and it stinks to play with a bunch of other guys rushing you.

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  151. Leaderboard:

    1. R. McIlroy (NIR): -16 (71 holes)
    2. P. Mickelson: -15 (72)
    T3. H. Stenson (SWE): -14 (72)
    T3. R. Fowler: -14 (72)

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  152. If Rory decides here to pick up his ball and come back tomorrow morning, Phil is going to flip out.

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  153. McIlroy pitches out of the bunker to within about 25 feet. He has two putts for victory -- in the dark.

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  154. McIlroy's approach putt is brilliant -- it stops about a foot short. He taps in the final putt, and RORY MCILROY HAS WON THE 2014 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP.

    That was as good a golf tournament as you will ever see.

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