AP – Geoff Ogilvy can attest to the brutal conditions after a horror round at the US PGA Tour’s Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
The Australian twice three-putted from just three feet in a three-hole stretch on his way to a nine-over-par 81 third round that sent him tumbling 84 spots from 28th overnight.
Former US Open champion Ogilvy was one of the unlucky players whose turn it was to tackle the iconic Pebble Beach course on Saturday, when cold, strong wind gusts made it unplayable at times.
Over at the Monterey Peninsula course, American Jimmy Walker was eyeing his third win of the US PGA Tour season after shooting four-under 67 to build a six-shot lead heading into the final round.
Walker made his first bogey of the tournament but that hardly slowed him as he countered with five birdies to lead at 13-under 202.
Also playing at Monterey Peninsula, Tim Wilkinson of New Zealand (69) and American Hunter Mahan (72) were tied for second.
On a day when the severe winds halted play for two hours and 20 minutes, play ended at sunset with 12 golfers yet to finish their rounds.
Jordan Spieth, tied with Walker going into the third round, had to face Pebble Beach at its fiercest and was five over through 15 holes – nine shots out of the lead – when play was halted.
The scoring average at Pebble – where the final round will be played – was just over 75.
But no course was easy. Monterey Peninsula has played the easiest of the week, though it has some 10 holes that run along the ocean, exposed to the wind.
“Who knows what the weather’s going to do?” said Walker, who won the Frys.com Open last October and the Sony Open of Hawaii last month.
“I know Pebble Beach is a tough golf course, especially with the winds.”