Notes & Quotes from Moving Day at the “Must Go Low” Championship

(with thanks to PGA TOUR Champions media staff)

Jeff Maggert, 63-65-69 – 197 (-16)

Maggert was 1-over on the back nine Saturday until a birdie on the par-5 18th gave him a 2-under 69 and a one-shot lead entering the final round.

“You know, once you get to Sunday, the other three days are gone, you’re just playing hard.  Like I said, there’s going to be a lot of birdies tomorrow, so it’s not going to be a day where you just kind of hang around, make a lot of pars and you’re going to finish okay.  Probably something in the 20‑unders is kind of what I was expecting all week.  I feel like I need to at least get something 20, 21, 22, 23.”

Miguel Angel Jimenez, 65-70-63 – 198 (-15)

The 8-under 63 was his fifth score of 63 or better on PGA TOUR Champions, and it’s the second time he shot 63 in this year’s Playoffs.

“I try play hole by hole, shot by shot and let the thing come to you.  Just enjoy this nice conditions, this beautiful weather, nice golf course, super conditions, nice field.  Everything is positive.  Enjoy yourself, you know.  Hope I can hit it well the way I’ve been hitting it at the moment, hole some putts like I’ve been holing today.”

Retief Goosen, 66-67-66 – 199 (-14)

Through 12 holes Saturday, Goosen was 5-under for the day and trailed Maggert by two. Goosen’s deficit grew to four after he hit his tee shot into the water and double bogeyed the par-3 13th. He recovered with birdies on two of his last three holes and posted a third-round 66.

“Stick to your game plan, play the course as I’ve played it and just I hope I hit my iron shots a little closer to the hole and make some putts.”

Bernhard Langer, 64-68-69 – 201 (-12)

Langer was 1-over through 11 holes Saturday, but he closed with birdies on Nos. 12, 13 and 18 to post a 2-under 69. He is T5 and trails Maggert by four shots entering the final round.

Jerry Kelly, 66-74-64 – 204 (-9)

A day after recording a 3-over 74, Kelly shot 7-under 64 on Saturday and improved 13 places on the leaderboard. It’s his second 10-shot improvement in back-to-back rounds on PGA TOUR Champions.

Joe Durant was 5-under on Nos. 4-7 (birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie) and shot a 6-under 65, tied for his best round of the season. It was his eighth consecutive round in the 60s at Phoenix Country Club, and he is fourth at 13-under. His success Saturday might be attributed to allowing this writer, recovering from hip surgery, to accompany him in the cart going over to the driving range.  Nice guy, nice round.