Justin Rose of England hasn’t won anywhere in four years, but seems to have found some of his old form.
The 42-year-old Rose, who has 22 professional victories, shot six-under-par 65 in the third round at Monterey Peninsula Country Club and was three-under through nine holes at Pebble Beach Golf Links when darkness halted play in the final round, giving him a two-stroke lead in the weather-delayed 82nd AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
All golfers in the field played Pebble, Monterey Peninsula and Spyglass Hill Golf Course in the first three rounds before the cut to 75 players, who are playing only Pebble Beach in the final round, which is headed for a Monday finish.
“I made a good score, but I felt my game was a little scratch out there, had a couple of three-putts, but overall I was pleased with the score I shot,” said Rose, whose last victory came in the 2019 Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla. “I made a bogey on the first hole of the final round, but then I played pretty well the rest of the way.
“I worked hard to keep a good score as it got colder and darker later in the day and did a good job of that. I just want to try to continue playing as well as I have been and keep a clean scorecard the rest of the way.
“I just want to do what I can tomorrow to win the tournament.”
Rose, who captured the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., and the 2016 Olympic Gold Medal at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, made three birdies and an eagle on the last 10 holes of his 65, and added another eagle and two birdies on his nine holes in the final round before the end came.
Peter Malnati, the second-round leader, twice made three straight birdies in a 67 at Pebble in round three, was two-under for the final round and 13-under overall in a tie for second with Denny McCarthy, who had a 71 in round three at Monterey Peninsula but was 7-under through 15 holes in the last round, and Brendon Todd, who shot 68 at Pebble with an eagle on the last hole in round three and was five-under through 12 holes with an eagle at No. 2 in the final round.
“I was out of position all afternoon, but I’m still two-under, which is good,” said Malnati, whose only PGA Tour victory came in the 2016 Sanderson Farms Championship. “I didn’t play great, but it was OK and good enough to keep my in position for tomorrow, when I expect it will be windy again in the morning.
“I’m just going to do the best I can, try my hardest on every shot and take care of business to see where it takes me. I’m not paying attention to what Justin is doing, but if we get to No. 18 and we’re close, then we will have to see.
“I would just love to win here at Pebble because it’s such a special place.”
Taylor Pendrith of Canada posted a 71 in round three at Pebble, but then finished with a brilliant, bogey-free 64 and is three shots back at 12-under and in a tie for fifth with Beau Hossler of Mission Viejo, who had a 67 at Spyglass and was four-under through 12 holes in the final round; Brandon Wu of Danville and Stanford, who carded a 71 at Pebble and was three-under through 10 with an eagle at No. 6 in the final round, and Keith Mitchell, who totaled 70 at Pebble and then was two-under through 10 in the last round.
“I just wanted to get finished so I don’t have to go back out there in the morning,” said Pendrith, whose only two pro victories came on the 2019 PGA Tour Canada. “I’ll just sit around, watch what the guys out there do and see what happens.”
Michael Kim of San Diego and Cal shot 70 at Spyglass Hill and was a bogey-free five-under through 17 holes and five back at 10-under in a tie for ninth with Richy Werenski, who had a 71 at Spyglass Hill and was a bogey-free four-under through 15; Ryan Moore, who totaled 72 at Spyglass and eagled No. 2 in the final round and was three-under through 13 holes, and Brent Grant, who had a 69 at Spyglass and was one-under through 12 in the final round.
Defending champion Tom Hoge had a 73 at Monterey Peninsula and was one-under through 14 holes in round four, leaving him in a tie for 55th.
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