Taylor Pendrith has been coping with an ailing left shoulder for over a 12 months now, however that has not slowed him down on the CJ Up Byron Nelson.
He powered by the ache at TPC Craig Ranch, carding an 8-under 63 on Saturday to shoot up the leaderboard and into the lead at 19-under—the Canadian leads by one over Jake Knapp after 54 holes.
“Been taking part in some good golf the previous few weeks, and it’s good to see it come collectively,” Pendrith mentioned.
“I feel I simply want to remain affected person and play my very own sport. I can’t get forward of myself. Make as many birdies as you possibly can as a result of I feel it’ll take a low one tomorrow.”
Pendrith’s went very low on Saturday, because of a sizzling begin. After opening with a par-birdie-par begin, he chipped in for an eagle on back-to-back holes on the par-5 fifth and the quick par-4 sixth.
All of the sudden, Pendrith discovered himself at 16-under par and in a share of the lead.
“It was good to see these fall. The primary one had a little bit little bit of pace on the chip, and it hit the pin proper within the center, went round, and dropped into the opening,” Pendrith mentioned to Amanda Renner on the CBS Sports activities telecast after the spherical.
“The second was a good looking shot that rolled in like a putt. Good to get off to an ideal begin by six holes.”
Pendrith cooled off considerably after that, making solely three birdies over his closing 12 holes. Nonetheless, he didn’t make any bogies and is ready on securing his first PGA Tour title.
“Will probably be an extended day. Loads of birdie alternatives,” Pendrith mentioned.
“Getting off to a pleasant begin helps. If I don’t, there isn’t a panic. I am simply going to take it one gap at a time and know that I’m most likely going to make some birdies in some unspecified time in the future, hopefully.”
A win would ship him to the Wells Fargo Championship—a Signature Occasion—and the PGA Championship at Valhalla.
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However it could additionally assist his possibilities of making the Presidents Cup, which is able to happen in his native Canada in September. Pendrith performed for the Worldwide Staff in 2022 as properly.
“I haven’t had the most effective of years thus far, nevertheless it’s an enormous objective of mine, particularly being in Canada, with Mike Weir because the captain,” Pendrith mentioned.
“Two years in the past was superior. Getting again to that stage could be superb, and much more particular to be in my residence nation. It’s positively a objective of mine.”
Pendrith has had an up-and-down season, partially as a result of his well being points. He has missed the reduce in six of the 11 occasions he has performed but in addition has 4 top-11 finishes.
His finest consequence got here at Torrey Pines, the place he tied for ninth.
Maybe his season improves drastically on Sunday. Ought to he go on to win, Pendrith will proceed a working development on the PGA Tour in 2024: coming into the winner’s circle for the primary time.
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By. Remember to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.
