Writing from Castle Rock, Colorado
Saturday, August 24, 2024
If Sunday’s final round of the BMW Championship offers as much intrigue and drama as did Saturday’s third round, the echoes from the cheers will rattle around this little mountain that Castle Pines Golf Club’s members call home for weeks on end.
What mid-round had been a case study of leaders in retreat turned into a festival of birdies over the last five holes. Incoming Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley’s four birds in the last five holes – including an 8-footer for a birdie 3 at the last which prompted a long bellow from the lubricated gallery – completed a 2-under-par 70 and vaulted him back into the lead at 12-under 204, a stroke ahead of Adam Scott and two ahead of the Swedish duo of Ludvig Aberg and Alex Noren.
Bradley, who won the BMW at Aronimink near Philadelphia in 2018, is feeling the love from the gallery partly because of his play but more because of his captaincy. The “U-S-A! U-S-A!” chants have turned Castle Pines into Lake Placid at times.
“I haven't felt that since I played in the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup, what I felt out there today,” Bradley said. “That was really cool. For now, I feel like I need to carry the torch for the United States Ryder Cup team, and I hope I'm doing that.”
Bradley, who hit only half the greens in regulation, bogeyed the 11th, 12th and 13th, and but kept his wits about him.
“I told myself after those three bogeys in a row that I was either tied for the lead or maybe one back,” Bradley said. “I would have been happy with that to start the week this late in the tournament. Kept trying to tell myself that.”
Scott, who lost the lead by hitting his first shot out of bounds and dropping four strokes in the first four holes, rallied to a degree, with birdies at the 16th and 17th, the latter a 6-footer, to assume solo second at 11-under 205.
“I didn't feel like I did that much wrong,” Scott said. “A couple of drives were just not quite right, and a three-putt, and all of a sudden I'm kind of chasing. I really struggled mostly on the greens today. They were just so different from yesterday's round speed-wise and firmness and look and everything.
“Felt like I was on a different course almost, and I just battled that most of the round. The good shots I hit, I didn't really get the reward. I'm in a good spot in the end of it to be one back.”
Aberg, who opened the day with a nosebleed on the first fairway, scattered the native hummingbirds with a 34-foot eagle putt at the par-5 14th – his second there in three days – and held station there en route to a 1-under 71 for 10-under 206. Noren, after early stumbles, came home in 4-under 32, including a 36-foot birdie at the last for 2-under 70 and 206.
“It was sneaky hard,” Aberg said of the course. “The wind (south, some 10-15 mph) was tricky. The greens were firmer from not having that much rain.”
It was compelling golf in the picturesque theater that is Castle Pines Golf Club, and that wasn’t all of it. Sneaking back into the picture we find Xander Schauffele, whose 5-under 67 for 7-under 209 was built on a 4-under inward nine, a splendid turnaround from his approach on No. 3, a devilish par 4. It sailed left, hit the rock wall in front of the green and caromed into the water. The result: a double-bogey 6.
“I had to dig deep in my little patience bucket that's running thin this late in the year on a Saturday,” Schauffele said.
Then there’s Wyndham Clark, who grew up playing Castle Pines and whose third round 3-under 69 was punctuated by a 16-foot eagle putt at the par-5 17th. He’s tied with Schauffele at 209, five strokes in arrears.
All that sets up this: Bradley and Scott in the final twosome for the second day running, and Aberg and Noren the duo right ahead of them, same as today. Schauffele and Clark lurking. But this time, the $4 million first prize will be hanging in the clubhouse window as bait.
“House money,” Scott called it, knowing that he can chase the win with his spot in next week’s Tour Championship, where the winner scoops up $25 million, secure.
“I'm right in this golf tournament,” Scott continued. “I don't know how many times this year I reckon I've been in contention going into Sunday, so I'm excited for tomorrow.”
Even if you’re only watching, it’s hard not to be.
Around Castle Pines
Defending champion Viktor Hovland is in the middle of the pack this week, but he’s hardly playing quiet golf. Saturday, he came within 16 inches of an ace on the par-3 16th, deftly using the side slope on the right side of the green to steer his tee shot toward the cup. He made the birdie putt and finished with a 1-under 71, and is tied for 24th. … World rankings leader Scottie Scheffler scored 2-over 74 and is at 1-over 217, tied for 35th. … The course average of 71.709 found the par-4 third hole the most testing, playing more than a half-stroke over par (4.646), while the par-5 17th was the pushover hole, at 4.250 strokes. … Robert MacIntyre withdrew after nine holes Saturday because of back pain. He was 2-over for the front nine. With Hideki Matsuyama’s WD because of back trouble before the second round, that leaves 48 players in the field. MacIntyre and Matsuyama will be paid for 49th and 50th place, but the money will be unofficial. … Sunday TV (Central time): ESPN+ 8-11 a.m. (plus feature group coverage until conclusion), Golf Channel 11 a.m.-1 p.m., NBC 1 p.m. until the finish.
– Tim Cronin