Nico Echavarria held off two-time PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas to stay two forward of the American with a tap-in on the 18th for an eagle.
Echavarria maintained his stable type this week, regardless of two bogeys in spherical three – 4 birdies and an eagle on the 18th stored the Colombian on track to bid for a second PGA title.
“That’s the way you want to finish a round,” stated Echavarria, who hit a 5-wood to 2 ft for the tap-in on the 550-yard gap.
“I had a good tee shot, hit a really good second shot and finished with an eagle. I prefer that than a birdie obviously.”
Thomas has gained 15 occasions on the PGA Tour, however is with out a victory in two and a half years since profitable the 2022 PGA Championship, having first gained that title in 2017.
“It’s obviously tough,” Thomas stated of his early tour successes. “It’s hard to win at any stage, doesn’t matter who you are.”
“On the finish of the day it has been some time, however I’ve nonetheless gained a fairly good quantity of golf tournaments. I understand how to win.
“It’s just a matter of executing and doing it and that’s really been the biggest difference. There’s a reason there’s only one every week.”
Rickie Fowler, who tied for the runner-up two years in the past and has connections to Japan, stays six behind and tied for fourth place, regardless of sinking a monster putt within the 18th.
“There’s been a lot of good signs, but over the past few events I just haven’t really put it all together,” he stated. “So I’m looking forward to getting out there and hopefully we can get a good one going.”
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