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Kevin Chappell has never won a USPGA tournament, but his consistency sees the 30-year-old American in with a big chance to win the Tour Championship at his first attempt.
He started the third round at the tough East Lake course in Atlanta two shots off the Dustin Johnson pace, the gap widened to four shots at the turn, but Johnson’s two bogeys and a double gave Chappell the lead by one.
Johnson birdied the last, so they go into the final round locked together on 8-under, two shots to the good of Rory McIlroy, Ryan Moore, and Hideki Matsuyama.
The danger man is McIlroy who shot 66 today with a flawless four birdies, leaving at least four shots on course with poor putting.
But don’t discount Chappell. Even though he hasn’t won before, he has posted three seconds and seven top 10s this season, so he knows what it’s like to be in contention.
Johnson was the surprise packet.
He was cruising until the wheels came off in a flash on the homeward nine.
It will be interesting to see how he recovers tomorrow from blowing a comfortable four-shot lead by playing superb golf tee to green, and nailing the putts,
Bubba Watson and the potential Rookie of the Year Emiliano Grillo shared the best score of the day with McIlroy, both firing in six birdies and two bogeys.
Watson and Moore must be firmly in the thoughts of captain Davis Love 111 for the 12th and final spot in Team USA for next week’s Ryder Cup at Hazeltine.
Even though Watson is ranked seventh in the world, and Moore 42nd – Watson hasn’t had one top 10 finish since March, and is ranked 164th in putting.
Moore is the in-form contender with two top 10 finishes in his last three starts, and is heading for another top 10 at the Tour Championship.
And with Jordan Spieth, Jimmy Walker, Phill Mickelson, JB Holmes, and Patrick Reed – all key members of Team USA out of form this week, Ryan Moore would be a welcome addition to a team that has lost the last three Ryder Cups to Team Europe.
Tour Championship leaderboard after three rounds:
8-under – Dustin Johnson, Kevin Chappell
6-under – Rory McIlroy, Ryan Moore, Hideki Matsuyama
4-under – Jason Dufner
3-under – Charl Schwartzel, Paul Casey
2-under – Justin Thomas
1-under – Emiliano Grillo
Even – Roberto Castro, Russell Knox, Matt Kuchar
1-over – Adam Scott, Bubba Watson, Danile Berger, Gary Woodland
2-over – Jordan Spieth, William McGirt
3-over – Patrick Reed, Si Woo Kim, Brandt Snedeker, Kevin Kisner
4-over – Jhonathan Vegas, JB Holmes
5-over – Phil Mickelson, Sean O’Hair
9-over – Jimmy Walker
13-over – Kevin Na
Jason Day withdrew after 24 holes with a back injury.