Tyrell Hatton of England and Abraham Ancer of Mexico are tied for the lead with ninth-ranked Webb Simpson and Ryan Palmer in the RBC Heritage, but you wouldn’t know it to listen to them.
Hatton (pictured) posted one of six 8-under-par 63s that were recorded in the third round at Harbour Town Golf Links, and Ancer shot 65, but afterward they were wondering how they were on top of the leaderboard in the second PGA Tour event since the circuit shut down in March because of the Conronavirus pandemic.
“It honestly feels a big strange,” said Hatton, who hasn’t played a full tournament since he won the Arnold Palmer Invitational three months ago. “I just don’t feel very comfortable over the ball.
“But I got quite lucky where a lot of my misses ended up and made a lot of putts. I’m quite surprised. I just try the best on every shot and that’s all I can do. I’ve gotten away with it so far. I hope it feels great tomorrow.”
Said Ancer, who is seeking his first PGA Tour victory: “This is a golf course I really like, but I feel like I gave away so many chances today. I feel like I’m not making any putts. I think I made two outside four feet. My caddie told me to just stay patient. I’ll just keep doing the same thing and, hopefully, they will start falling in tomorrow.”
Simpson, the 2012 U.S. Open champion, finished at 68, while Palmer, who has won four times on the PGA Tour, carded a 66 as they tied Hatton and Ancer at 15-under 198 through 54 holes.
Daniel Berger, who won the Charles Schwab Challenge last week, Carlos Ortiz of Mexico and Joel Dahmen all posted 63s and are one stroke back in a tie for fifth. Ortiz chipped in from 45 feet for an eagle on the second hole and sank a seven-foot putt for another eagle on the fifth hole.
Joaquin Niemann of Chile and Joel Dahmen also recorded 63s and are two behind in a tie for eighth with Sergio Garcia (65) of Spain, Erik van Rooyen (66) of South Africa, Michael Thompson (66), Ian Poulter (67) of England, Matthew Fitzpatrick (68) of England and Corey Conners (69) of Canada.
Fourth-ranked Brooks Koepka shot 68 and is in a tie for 16th that includes fifth-ranked Dustin Johnson, who wound up at 67, while top-ranked Rory McIlroy is tied for 28th after a 66.
Second-ranked Jon Rahm of Spain and third-ranked Justin Thomas both shot 66 and are in a tie for 36th, while defending champion C.T. Pan of Taiwan is tied for 56th after a 70, and 10-ranked Xander Schauffele of La Jolla and San Diego State is 75th and dead last in the field after a 75.
 posted one of six 8-under-par 63s that were recorded in the third round at Harbour Town Golf Links, and Ancer shot 65, but afterward they were wondering how they were on top of the leaderboard in the second PGA Tour event since the circuit shut down in March because of the Conronavirus pandemic.){kind=link}