WASHINGTON, May 8, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Keegan Bradley grinded out a three-
under par 67 to seize a two-stroke lead after Saturday's rain-soaked third
round of the US PGA Wells Fargo Championship.
The 35-year-old American fired the low round of a miserable day to stand on
eight-under 202 after 54 holes on soggy TPC Potomac at Avenel in suburban
Washington.
American Max Homa was second on 204 after a 71 while India's Anirban Lahiri
and American James Hahn shared third on 206 with England's Matthew
Fitzpatrick fifth in 207.
More than 2 1/2 inches of rain fell upon the course since Wednesday with
cold and windy conditions as well on Saturday requiring gritty play in
miserable weather.
Bradley had the day's low round and was among only four players to crack
par in the third round, matching the fewest in any round this season with the
final round in March at Bay Hill.
"It was miserable," Bradley said. "But I grew up playing in this weather,
so it was fun. But I am so glad to be done."
Bradley, the 2011 PGA Championship winner in his major debut, was excited
about how he played in brutal conditions.
"Every shot is different than you hit normally," he said. "I hit 7-iron
from 140 today. I'm also really happy with my putting.
"To go out and stay strong in this weather, it was daunting in the
beginning. I was thinking I've got a long way to go here. But I'm proud of
the way I played."
Bradley, ranked 64th, seeks his fifth US PGA triumph, his first since
taking the 2018 BMW Championship in a playoff over England's Justin Rose.
He said the tough conditions could be an advantage if they keep him from
thinking about the fact that he hasn't won in nearly four years.
"You're so worried about keeping everything dry," he said. "I'm just trying
to get to the next shot."
Lahiri, ranked 85th, seeks his first US PGA victory and first victory since
the 2015 Indian Open on the European Tour.
"It feels like I've just gone 12 rounds in a pro boxing match," said
Lahiri. "You're fighting everything, you're fighting your body, the elements,
the water, the cold, the conditions.
"It's tough work and you just have to grit your teeth and grind it out."
The course has its first PGA event since 2018 because Quail Hollow, the
regular Wells Fargo course in Charlotte, will host the Presidents Cup in
September. Australia's Jason Day, the 2015 PGA Championship winner who began
the round with a three-stroke lead, found a bunker at the par-3 third and
needed a putt from just outside eight feet to save bogey, then found water
off the fourth tee on the way to a triple-bogey seven that left him co-leader
with Homa, who bogeyed the fourth.
At the par-4 fifth, Day sent another tee shot into the water on his way to
bogey while Homa sank a four-foot birdie putt to grab a two-stroke lead at 7-
under.
Day stumbled back with a bogey at the par-3 ninth and double bogey at the
par-5 10th on his way to a 79 to stand on 209.
"I just didn't have my stuff," Day said. "I made a lot of errors out there
and hitting into penalty areas. I've just got to get back to it tomorrow and
try and find some positives."
Lahiri, runner-up at the Players Championship in March, sank a birdie putt
from just inside 24 feet at the par-4 eighth and followed with a 16-foot
birdie putt at the par-3 ninth to make the turn in second at 6-under.
Lahiri missed the green at the par-3 12th and made bogey to fall back.
But Bradley holed a 21-foot birdie putt at 11 then dropped his tee shot
just inside three feet and birdied the par-3 12th to match Homa for the lead
at 7-under.
Homa fell back with bogeys at 11 and 12 while Lahiri went birdie-bogey at
14 and 15, leaving Bradley with a two-stroke edge.
Homa tapped in for birdie at 14 but Bradley made a birdie putt from just
inside 10 feet at the par-4 16th to maintain his margin.
Four-time major winner and defending champion Rory McIlroy, who made the
cut on the number at level par, shot 68, second-low round on the day despite
a bogey-bogey start, and shared sixth on 208.
"I can't be too disappointed," he said. "Two-under out there was a very
good score."
