HILTON HEAD ISLAND, South Carolina — U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick hit his best PGA Tour score of 63 on Saturday to hold a one-shot lead over Patrick Cantlay by three rounds at RBC Heritage.
Fitzpatrick had a six birdie and an eagle when he holed from 149 yards on the Par-4 third hole. He was a 14-under-199, poised to win his first round since that major title 10 months earlier.
“For me, this is the perfect start you need on Saturday, isn’t it?” Fitzpatrick said of the unexpected piercing. “It just gets you off to a good start.”
Cantlay, who lost in a playoff to Jordan Spieth a year earlier, hit a 66 to move to 13-under and center on another effort at the winning tartan jacket.
Spieth was also in the chase again, another stroke after his 66. He’s looking to do something he’s never done in his career — defend a title.
World number two Scottie Scheffler and second-round leader Jimmy Walker were among the five players tied at the age of 11-under. Scheffler shot 69, Walker 72.
Walker, opening 65-65, reached 14-under and connected with Fitzpatrick before exploding with a three-bogey on a nine and running back.
Walker missed a par putt within two feet in the eleventh to get out of first. Then, he fired his tee at the third ball off the wooden pile just off the green, resulting in a second bogey.
On the par-5, Walker’s second shot seemed to linger in one of the tall, stately trees facing the green, or at least there was no video evidence of his ball splashing into the water hazard next to him. Walker took a one-stroke penalty and had a third bogey in five holes.
Masters champion John Rahm gave spectators celebrating his second big win all week something to shout about at Harbor Town Golf Links when he opened with 3 consecutive birdies and closed to within 3 strokes of the lead.
But Rahm-com’s feel-good story collapsed at fourth when his point putt stalled on wood facing lower than the water. He followed it up with a one-handed backhand that stopped 65 feet from the Cup and needed three putts for a double-bogey. Ram didn’t find the same ostentation the rest of the way.
The world No. 1 finished in minus 8 after a 69 and is 18 holes away from a well-deserved rest after winning the Augusta National last week for his second major title. He will return to the Tour in two weeks to defend his Mexican Championship title.
Fitzpatrick has struggled most of the year, missing four cuts in his past seven events before making it to Augusta National last week. This is where he finished tied for 10th and came into one of his favorite courses – he’s played this tournament eight seasons – with confidence.
“I think this golf course showed there were low scores here this week,” said Fitzpatrick, whose family vacationed at Sea Pines Resort when he was a child.
Fitzpatrick played for Harbor Town as a youth and took tennis lessons on the clay greens that once hosted the annual WTA tournament, now called the Charleston Open. How was the tennis match?
“It wasn’t as good as my golf at the time,” he said.
Fitzpatrick, who topped his previous round-low 64 and last accomplished it at this venue two years ago, is looking forward to adding the championship trophy to his memories of Harbortown.
Cantlay had had four seventh-place finishes at Harbor Town in his previous five appearances. He had birdies on three of his first six holes to give himself a shot at another high end.
“I’ve had a good track record around this golf course and I’ve had a number of opportunities, so it shouldn’t be anything new tomorrow,” he said.
Fitzpatrick was off par on a picture-perfect Saturday made especially for the lows – and plenty of golfers have accomplished just that at Harbor Town.
Former PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley finished with a 64 before lunch, while Chez Reavie had a 65 to climb into the top ten.