It hasn’t been the week Leona Maguire was hoping for so far at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship as the 31-year-old has found it difficult around Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota, sitting T49 heading into the final round.
Maguire did well to get inside the cutline on Friday, showing some form closing out her round but the Cavan native couldn’t find that form again on Saturday, with no thanks to the windy conditions that picked up in the afternoon.
Starting her round on the back nine, Maguire made bogey at the par-4 14th before showing a glimpse of what she’s about with back-to-back birdies at the 15th and 16th.
Unfortunately for Maguire, that hot shot of form didn’t stay around for too long as she turned with another bogey at the first. Now back to even-par, a miscalculation at the par-3 fourth saw a costly double bogey come Maguire’s way.
Maguire did well to squeeze in one more birdie at the par-5 seventh as the two-time LPGA winner posted a 73 to sit at one-over-par for the weekend.
It was moving day at the top of the leaderboard and a slip up from 36-hole leader Ina Yoon saw the Korean fall to third place, with Haeran Ryu taking full advantage to nab the top spot heading into the final round.
Ryu did all of her damage on the front nine, making three birdies and an eagle on her way to posting a four-under-par 68, to take her to 11-under heading into Sunday.
“Today my front nine was amazing. I started the back nine, it was more windy and a lot of tough shots and tough putts, but I just made one bogey today, so it was, I think, good for me and tomorrow I just want to have more confidence and more calm,” said Ryu.
Canada’s Brooke Henderson sits just one back from Ryu at 10-under after the 28-year-old posted a three-under third round.
“I’m really happy with how the round went today. Nice to get it under par and climb the leaderboard a little bit. It was very windy, a lot different, and I would say tougher conditions than the first two rounds,” said Henderson.
Yoon, who led the first two rounds, posted a three-over-par 75 to fall down the leaderboard. The 23-year-old shot a tournament record-tying 63 on Thursday and a 69 on Friday to reach 12-under, but struggled with nerves on Saturday.
“Many butterflies in my body, not just stomach. Sometimes I’m shaking, like everyone does. And I breathe fast, so I try to breathe slower and walk slower,” said Yoon. “After 10, I think I found my pace,” she added.
Nelly Korda who looks to become the first woman to win three consecutive majors in a season shot a one-under 71 to sit T6, four strokes off the lead heading into the last day. Korda struggled with putting in the swirling conditions.
“Putting in general, when it gets this windy, you have to calculate in the wind, too, and a gust here and there. Sometimes you just aren’t as confident with your lines,” said Korda.
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