ST. LOUIS — Whatever momentum Scottie Scheffler collected around the turn at Bellerive Country Club on Saturday was lost on a back nine that saw the world’s top-ranked player card an even 35.
Two birdies, two bogeys, a few par saves. And a few birdie putts that ran just short of the hole.
Some movement up the leaderboard but nowhere near enough to catch 36-hole leader Wyndham Clark, who sits nine shots ahead of Scheffler while playing his back nine.
Scheffler expressed confidence in still being in contention at the BMW Championship on Friday after putting together a 65 while confirming he was feeling sick — but needed a strong weekend performance to fulfill such expectations.
Saturday’s front-nine 33 was an improvement from his second round start that opened with a bogey at the par-4 first hole. It was the back nine that proved to be the difference maker.
Unlike his electric, bogey-free Friday performance on the final nine holes that saw him head into the clubhouse six shots off the lead, Scheffler found bunkers and other challenges throughout his third round closing stretch at Bellerive.
He bogeyed two par-4s, the No. 12 and No. 15 — two holes that have caused him a bit of stress this week, albeit not costing him any strokes on the field until Moving Day.
The start of the tournament was anything but memorable for Scheffler, who got in with an opening round 72 on Thursday amid reports that he feeling sick.
Saturday proved to be the middle of the three rounds in terms of scoring but echoed the earlier performance in that trouble was pervasive.