[PGA Championship] Pereira Leads by 3 Shots "Underdog Storm Continues~"... Woods 'Withdraws'

2022 Season Second Major PGA Championship Day 3: Zallatoris and Fitzpatrick Tied for 2nd in Chase, Lee Kyoung-hoon Tied for 36th

Mito Pereira is looking at the ball immediately after his tee shot on the 8th hole on the third day of the PGA Championship. Tulsa, USA=Getty Images/Multivitz Photo by Multivitz

[Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyun-jun] The 'unknown storm' of Mito Pereira (Chile), ranked 100th in the world, continues.

On the 22nd (Korean time), at Southern Hills Golf Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA (par 70, 7,365 yards), during the third day of the second major PGA Championship of the PGA Tour (total prize money $15 million), he scored 1 under par and suddenly took a 3-stroke lead (9 under par, 201 strokes). Will Zalatoris (USA) and Matt Fitzpatrick (England) are tied for 2nd place (6 under par, 204 strokes), and Cameron Young (USA) is in 4th place (5 under par, 205 strokes), setting the stage for a late chase.

Pereira gained momentum by shooting 6 under par the previous day, and on this day, he added 1 under par with 5 birdies and 4 bogeys. He started well with birdies on the 2nd hole (par 4) and the 5th hole (par 5). Although he faced difficulties in the middle of the round with three consecutive bogeys from the 8th to 10th holes and a bogey on the 12th hole (par 4), he managed to make under par scores with consecutive birdies on the 13th and 14th holes and a birdie on the 18th hole (par 4). His iron shot green hit rate was only 61.11%, but his average of 1.64 putts per hole with 'stingy putting' proved powerful.

Will Zalatoris is making an iron shot on the 16th hole on the third day of the PGA Championship. Tulsa, USA=Getty Images/Multivitz

While second-round leader Zalatoris struggled with 3 over par, Fitzpatrick shot 3 under par to join the championship race. Bubba Watson and Justin Thomas are tied for 7th place (2 under par, 208 strokes). Watson particularly drew attention with a 'rollercoaster play' showing a 10-stroke difference in one day, shooting 7 under par the previous day and 3 over par on this day. Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) lost 4 strokes and remained tied for 17th place (even par, 210 strokes). He continued to suffer from a 'par 3 hole nightmare' with a double bogey on the 6th hole (par 3) and a triple bogey on the 11th hole (par 3).

Jordan Spieth (USA) finished tied for 45th place (5 over par, 215 strokes), effectively ending his challenge to become the sixth 'career grand slammer' in global golf history. From Korea, 'AT&T Champ' Lee Kyoung-hoon (31) is tied for 36th place (3 over par, 213 strokes), and Kim Si-woo (27, both from CJ Logistics) is tied for 70th place (9 over par, 219 strokes). The 'returned golf emperor' Tiger Woods (USA) withdrew after his worst round of 9 over par, saying, "My legs hurt too much to make good shots."