LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Watch out for the second-to-last tee time in Sunday’s PGA Championship final round at Valhalla.
The winner very well might come from that pairing of Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler. Fowler (11-under) is two shots behind leader Rory McIlroy and Mickelson (10-under) is three back.
Both like to chase and, more importantly, both love playing together. Mickelson and Fowler play a practice round together as partners in a match on Tuesdays of major championships.
So for each player, the comfort level and fun factor are two reasons to believe one of them could chase McIlroy down.
For Fowler, the day is probably more important — though don’t tell that to Mickelson — because he is searching for his first major championship and is the only player to have finished in the top five in the previous three majors this year.
“I’m expecting to be more comfortable [Sunday] than I have in the past two final rounds [in majors, at the U.S. open and British Open],’’ Fowler said. “And, I’m playing alongside Phil.
We’re going to have some fun and hopefully him and I are going to get things rolling like we do on Tuesdays against the boys. We’ll have a good time, that’s for sure.
“Him and I are comfortable around each other. If we get off to a good start we’re going to be able to feed off each other quite a bit. It’s going to be a fun walk and there’s a possibility if we get things going, it could come down to the two of us at the end.’’
Australian Jason Day has been in position to win his first major several times now, having finished in the top five a total five times. Now he is trying to break through coming off a wrist injury that has nagged him as well as a recent bout with vertigo, which forced him to withdraw from the Bridgestone.
“Obviously I’m trying to get back on my feet right now,’’ said Day, who shot a 69 Saturday and is three shots out of the led. “With all the frustrations, with injuries, withdrawing last week, it wasn’t the greatest preparation coming to this event. I worked pretty hard over the last week, bar the vertigo.
“I’m in contention right now. Got one day left. We’ll see how it goes.I’m still positive with how I’m playing. I feel like I’m playing pretty good golf.”
Jim Furyk, who has been near the top of the leaderboard for the first 36 holes, had a disappointing day Saturday, shooting a 1-over-par 72. He was the only player among the top 37 who failed to break par.
One day after his petulant behavior on the course that included foul language and complaining about the wet weather, Bubba Watson shot 2-over 73 on Saturday to fade further from contention on a scoring day that should have played right into his game.
It has been a dream week for Kenny Perry, a native of Kentucky who received a special exemption from the PGA of America to play the PGA this week. Perry suffered a heart-breaking loss in the PGA Championship in 1996 at Valhalla but was also a member of the winning U.S. Ryder Cup team that defeated Europe in 2008 at Valhalla.
Perry, who has 14 PGA Tour wins and is now thriving on the Champion’s Tour, is 3-unfer par after shooting a 2-under-par 69.
Everywhere he has gone this week, the fans are showering him with adulation.
“I’ve felt like Tiger Woods, a rock star,’’ he said. “In my whole career, I never felt like that where everybody on every hole [cheers]. It’s been pretty incredible, to tell you the truth. I don’t consider myself Mr. Kentucky by no means. I am a Kentuckian and I’m proud of it.
“The fans have been great. They’ve given me a lot of love this week, a lot of support. It’s been a lot of fun. To be able to end it here in Kentucky, it couldn’t be any sweeter.’’
Perry turns 54 on Sunday, so he figures to get more love.
“At my age you don’t look forward to birthdays,’’ he said. “Hopefully it’s a nice day, go out there and have a good round of golf.’’