Martin Kaymer shot a 6-under par 66 on Saturday at Muirfield Village Golf Club and will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Memorial Tournament.
Entering his third day in Dublin, Ohio tied for the lead at 9 under, Kaymer made his way around Jack’s Place bogey-free while adding six birdies, highlighted by four in a six-hole stretch (Nos. 11-16) to secure the 54-hole marquee position at 15-under par.
“I like the speed of the greens. And I stroke it really well,” said Kaymer, citing putting as the key to his week thus far.
“Once you see the ball going in the ball — the hole seems bigger. So it’s just one of those weeks where putting so far worked really well.”
Alone in second-place was Adam Scott, who rode a seven-birdie 66, highlighted by a final-hole gain, to reach 13-under par.
Patrick Cantlay dropped a shot on the final hole to post 68, and fall into a share for third-place at 11-under par, alongside Jordan Spieth and Hideki Matsuyama.
Spieth overcame a front-nine 37 with an immaculate back-nine 32, which included two sets of back-to-back birdies (Nos. 10, 11, 15, and 16), en route to a 3-under 69.
Going back to the Byron Nelson, this marks the fourth week in a row that Spieth will enter the final round near the top of the leaderboard.
“All in all I’m pleased with the progress that’s been made,” said Spieth. “If I look back three weeks from the Byron Nelson to now, it’s night and day, in my opinion, about how I feel about my game and how it’s actually producing.
“So I’m pleased with that. I’m just trying to make a little bit more progress for tomorrow.”
Matsuyama, meanwhile, carded a bogey-free 64 with eight birdies, highlighted by a final-hole chip-in birdie to secure the day’s low round.
Despite their marquee names, and major accomplishments, no one among the top 5 has hoisted a trophy in the past two seasons – at minimum, with Kaymer owning the longest win-less drought at 5 years. For Scott it’s been three years (2016 WGC-Cadillac) since his last Tour win, while Spieth (2017 Open), Matsuyama (2017 WGC-Bridgestone), and Cantlay (2017 Shriners) are in the midst of two-season dry spells.
Overnight co-leader Kyoung-Hoon Lee posted an even-par 72 to fall into a tie for seventh-place at 9-under par, alongside Marc Leishman (69) and Bud Cauley (70). Emiliano Grillo was next at 8-under following a third-round 71.
Justin Rose (71) and Rickie Fowler (72) headlined a five-player group tied for 10th at 7-under par.
Tiger Woods was 11 shots back at 4-under par following a 70.
2019 Memorial Tournament
Top 5: Round 3
Pos-Player-To Par (Rd 3)
1. Martin Kaymer -15 (-6)
2. Adam Scott -13 (-6)
3. Hideki Matsuyama -11 (-8)
3. Jordan Spieth -11 (-3)
3. Patrick Cantlay -11 (-4)
Stat Leaders: Round 3
Driving: Norman Xiong – 307.9 yards
Fairways: Jason Dufner – 37/42, 88.1%
Greens: Brian Harman – 43/54, 79.6%
Putts/GIR: Hideki Matsuyama – 1.585
Birdies: Hideki Matsuyama – 20
