Sergio Garcia, Jason Day chasing at AT&T Byron Nelson makes for thrilling Sunday
Two major winners are trying to run down James Hahn in Dallas, and that's going to be great
Jason Day and Sergio Garcia have combined for 20 PGA Tour wins, two major championships and over $97 million earned worldwide playing golf over the last two decades. They have also combined for three of the 13 AT&T Byron Nelson wins since 2004. On Saturday, they combined for just 127 strokes at TPC Four Seasons as they both positioned themselves for PGA Tour win No. 11 on Sunday.
Day had the round of the day with a 7-under 63 that included eight birdies and just one bogey. He gained over two strokes on the field with his putter, which included a 60-foot birdie on the par-3 17th hole. Day is actually not hitting the ball all that well this week (outside the top 50 in approach shots), but he's once again putting out of his mind.
"The biggest thing for me is to read the putt like it's going to go in the hole," Day told CBS Sports' Peter Kostis about the putt on 17. "It's really cool to hear the crowds roar like that again because it's been a while."
The Australian had one of the great putting seasons of all time last year when he won three times in two months, and he's No. 2 in the field this week in strokes gained in that category. Day said it was the most comfortable he's felt on the golf course in a long time.
"Everything was kind of clicking," Day said. "The biggest thing for me from Rounds 1 and 2 and today was the process going into the golf ball. The pre-shot routine was a a lot smoother and a lot more deliberate. The process thinking over the golf ball was a lot smoother as well. When things like that happen, you can kind of swing away at things."
Following 7-under 63 today, @JDayGolf improves his third round scoring average @attbyronnelson to 66.40 in five starts. @PGATOUR
— PGA TOUR Media (@PGATOURmedia) May 20, 2017
At 10 under on the week, Day will chase leader James Hahn, who is 12 under after 54 holes. He won't be an easy catch, either. Garcia will also try to run him down but from further behind. After opening with a 73 and touching 4 over for a bit on Friday, Garcia has caught fire over the last 33 holes, playing them in 12 under for an 8 under total.
That run for Garcia included a back nine of 29 on Saturday to get to 8 under overall and within four of the leader Hahn. His 64 on Saturday was the second-best round of the day behind Day. Garcia is T6 with just four golfers and four strokes between him and Hahn.
2-time @attbyronnelson champ @TheSergioGarcia closes w/29 on back 9 for a 64. Last year, he had a 29 on front nine in round one. @PGATOUR
— PGA TOUR Media (@PGATOURmedia) May 20, 2017
"Finally on the back nine, I kept hitting good shots and started rolling some putts in," Garcia said. "It all comes down to that, giving yourself chances and rolling a couple putts here and there. Get a little momentum and confidence and made a great par save on 14 that kept my round going and was able to finish with three good ones."
When you shoot 29 on the back, you know it's in before it drops. pic.twitter.com/6ocFVbwL8E
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 20, 2017
Garcia and Day both know that they have their work cut out for them with some immense ball-strikers like Hahn, Billy Horschel and Jason Dufner all at or around the lead, but these two know what it takes (specifically at this course).
James Hahn leads by 1 entering Sunday. Players with 1-shot lead thru 54 holes go on to win 25% of time last 5 seasons on #PGATour.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGC) May 20, 2017
"Still going to be a little bit far away but, you know, if I can play the same way I played the last couple of days and hopefully put another good round, see what happens," Garcia said.
"This is a good step in the right direction," Day said, who has struggled so far this year. "I just need to stay calm because obviously there's one more round to go. I can't get ahead of myself. I have to come out and enjoy the challenge tomorrow and see where I go."
It all sets up for what should be a thrilling Sunday with major winners Day (10 under) and Garcia (8 under) chasing non-major winners Hahn (12 under) and Horschel (11 under) with a lot of other bit players involved. As golf, and this tournament, should have taught us by now, though, anything can happen. And usually we have no idea what it will be.
















