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SLEEPING ON THE LEAD
Sleeping on the Lead: Jimmy Walker and Robert Streb
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July 30, 2016
By Mike McAllister, PGATOUR.COM
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Jimmy Walker and Robert Streb shared the 36-hole lead entering the third round at Baltusrol, and neither hit a shot on Saturday. (Getty Images)
SPRINGFIELD, N.J. – Despite not hitting a shot on Saturday, Jimmy Walker and Robert Streb continued to share the lead at the PGA Championship – thanks to unrelenting rain that halted play 40 minutes before they could tee off.
Walker and Streb remain the 36-hole leaders at 9 under, two strokes ahead of Emiliano Grillo and Jason Day. Those four are among the 10 who were unable to start their rounds; just 37 players finished before play was suspended at 2:15 p.m. ET. The rain prevented players from getting back on the course, with the restart scheduled for 7 a.m. ET on Sunday.
That means Walker and Streb will be sleeping on their leads for a second consecutive night, but unlike most Saturdays on the PGA TOUR, they still have half the tournament to play.
Walker has converted two of his first six 36 hole leads/co-leads, the latest coming at the 2015 Valero Texas Open. Streb has had just one 36-hole lead/co-lead in his career, at the 2015 Wells Fargo Championship, in which he finished T4.
Neither plans to change their game plans, even though they both knew the pressure will be immense as they each chase their first major title.
“It’s just golf,” Walker said. “You have to go out and hit the golf shots. Doesn’t matter what tournament it is or where you’re at. Any TOUR event, you still have to go out and hit the golf shots. That’s how I look at every week.”
A year ago, Streb shot a pair of 67s at Whistling Straits to finish T10 at the PGA. He knows it may take more to win this time.
“Stick to what I’m doing and see if I can do a little better,” Streb said. “The weekend at the PGA last year was good, so hopefully I can do a little better than that.”
That's all, folks. Round 3 will resume at 7 a.m. Sunday morning. pic.twitter.com/uewO0UGpWT
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 30, 2016NOTES
Looking ahead, if Walker maintains at least a share of the 54-hole lead, it would be the fifth time in his career. Of the previous four occasions, he’s converted the lead into a win three times, most recently at the 2015 Valero Texas Open. If Streb maintains a share of the 54-hole lead, it would be the first of his career. …
Since 2000, the 36-hole leader/co-leader has gone on to win the PGA Championship 10 times. The last time came in 2014, when Rory McIlroy led by a shot over Jason Day and Jim Furyk after 36 holes at Valhalla. A year ago, Australian Matt Jones led his countryman Day by two after 36 holes before Day surged to victory in the final two rounds. …
In 2005, the last time the PGA was played at Baltusrol, Phil Mickelson had the 36-hole lead by three shots. He was tied by Davis Love III after three rounds, but Mickelson shot 72 while Love shot 74 on the final day. Mickelson won by a stroke over Steve Elkington.
This is what we're waiting to pass at Baltusrol.#PGAChampionship pic.twitter.com/ZS1SliAnPF
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 30, 2016SLEEPING ON THE LEAD
Each PGA TOUR player who wins a TOUR event after having the 54-hole lead – a feat commonly called “sleeping on the lead” – will receive a new TEMPUR-Breeze bed from Tempur-Pedic, Official Mattress of the PGA TOUR.
In addition, a fan who has entered the Sleeping on the Lead Sweepstakes at tempurpedicgolf.com and one military member from the PGA TOUR’s Birdies for the Brave® program will also each take home a new TEMPUR-Breeze bed.
This program will run from the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational until the TOUR Championship.
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