Matthew Wolff said he got a sense of calm from the ice cream truck that circled Detroit Golf Club on Saturday as he capped a solid round with a superb finish to grab a three-shot lead at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
Wolff, who is bidding for his second PGA Tour win, made an eagle and three birdies over a sizzling six-hole stretch on the back nine en route to an eight-under-par 64 that brought him to 19 under on the week.
The 21-year-old American said it felt like he made a birdie every time he heard the ice cream truck make its way around a course that was closed to spectators in a bid to stem the spread of COVID-19.
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“I heard the ice cream truck and I'm like, I have a good feeling about this,” Wolff said about the 35-foot birdie putt he made at the par-three fifth.
“Just had that little like ice cream truck song in my head and I think that helped me just not think about the speed or the line or anything, just keep my head free.”
Wolff's 54-hole total of 197 is a career low, one better than he had at last year's 3M Open in Minnesota where he went on to triumph in only his third start on the PGA Tour as a professional.
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“I'm hitting really well, putting good, doing everything well,” said Wolff. “Just going to go out there (tomorrow), have fun and hopefully I hear the ice cream truck a little bit.”
World number 10 Bryson DeChambeau (67) and career journeyman Ryan Armour (67) were in a share of second place at 16 under while second-round co-leader Chris Kirk (70) was among a group of four golfers a further two shots adrift.
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Overnight co-leader Webb Simpson (71) was unable to keep pace with the flurry of low scores, leaving the world number six plenty of work to do in his bid to win two consecutive starts.
“It was frustrating. Didn't have my best stuff,” said Simpson, the highest-ranked player in the field. “Guys continue to make birdies I thought the golf course dried out a bit, but not my best stuff.”
Atwal surges into Top-20
Indian golfer Arjun Atwal fired a six-under 66 in the third round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic to end the day at Tied 18th. At one stage he went from the cut line to shared-lead for a very brief period.
When he finished, Atwal was Tied-4th but later as the others teed off and took advantage of a low-scoring day, Atwal ended T-18 after 54 holes.
Atwal (68-69-66) is now 11-under.
“A pity it had to finish like that with a three-putt, just like the start. That’s three three-putts this week and two in a single day,” he said.
His three-putts came on the first and the 18th.
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