Through 52 holes, Patrick Cantlay maintained a solid grip on the Genesis Invitational, boasting a three-shot lead over contenders Xander Schauffele and Will Zalatoris as he approached the 17th tee, a straightaway par-5 at Riviera.
This hole had offered birdie opportunities throughout the tournament, positioning Cantlay to extend his lead heading into the final round.
However, Cantlay’s drive on the 17th found the sand trap to the right of the fairway, an area noted by Playing Through as best avoided. Despite this setback, Cantlay still had a chance at birdie.
His second shot landed short of the green, setting up a wedge approach—a situation where Cantlay typically excels. Unfortunately, this time, he fell short, and his subsequent chip left him with a challenging 14-footer for par, which he missed, resulting in a bogey six.
This stumble at 17 proved costly, particularly as most other contenders capitalized on the hole, with several making birdie or better. Schauffele, Zalatoris, Luke List, J.T. Poston, Hideki Matsuyama, Corey Conners, and even Jason Day, who sank an eagle putt, all gained strokes. Cantlay’s bogey essentially opened the door for his rivals at Riviera.
Despite this setback, Cantlay finished the day with a respectable 1-under 70, maintaining his overall lead at 14-under through 54 holes.
Reflecting on his performance, Cantlay acknowledged his solid play but noted the absence of long putts and missed opportunities. Nevertheless, he remains optimistic about his position heading into the final round.
In an interesting twist, Cantlay and Schauffele, close friends off the course, will form the final pairing on Sunday. Their familiarity and past successes together suggest a comfortable dynamic for both players.
Cantlay, a local favorite with numerous PGA Tour victories under his belt, is no stranger to pressure. However, he understands the importance of capitalizing on Riviera’s par-5s to maintain his lead and avoid repeating the costly mistake at 17.
As Sunday approaches, Cantlay’s focus will be on executing his game plan and minimizing errors to secure victory. However, with stiff competition close behind, the outcome remains uncertain.
Jack Milko, a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through, provides comprehensive coverage of the Genesis Invitational. For more golf insights, follow @_PlayingThrough and @jack_milko on Twitter.
