Hero World Challenge: Morikawa grabs five-shot lead

Collin Morikawa shot a bogey-free round to pull far away from the field. The American started the round in grand fashion, chipping in on the par-5 third hole to make eagle.

Collin Morikawa of the United States watches his shot during the Hero World Challenge PGA Tour at the Albany Golf Club, in New Providence, Bahamas on Saturday.

Collin Morikawa carded a brilliant eight-under 64 third round to grab a five-shot lead in the Hero World Challenge at Albany Golf Course on Saturday.

Morikawa shot a bogey-free round to pull far away from the field. The American started the round in grand fashion, chipping in on the par-5 third hole to make eagle.

The 24-year-old is on the verge of winning his third title of the year, to go with The Open and the DP World Tour Championship.

“I’m just piggybacking off a couple of weeks ago in Dubai (at the DP World Tour Championship). I'm dissecting my game and figuring out what I need to do consistently to be a better player, and to be in contention a lot more. Chipping and putting has put me in a good spot. I feel great, and I've just got to keep doing that,” Morikawa said.

READ |

Brooks Koepka returned a three-under 69 to lie second. Koepka was forced to play catch up after making a double bogey in the par-3 eighth hole. “I had a few costly misses, a couple of good putts that just didn't go in, and a few left short. It was a little sloppy here and there, which cost me,” Koepka said.

Overnight leader Bryson DeChambeau shot a one-over 73 to fall to ninth place.

Daniel Berger recovered from a lost ball and double bogey on the par-5 third to sit in joint-third, alongside four Sam Burns, Viktor Hovland, Patrick Reed and Tony Finau.

Tournament host, Tiger Woods, meanwhile, came into the spotlight when he hit some balls in the practice range, suggesting he could soon return to action.

(The writer is in Nassau upon invitation from Hero MotoCorp)