Key Highlights :
American golfer Talor Gooch is in pole position to win the $5.97 million winner’s cheque at the Grange in Adelaide on the final day of the tournament. With consecutive 10-under 62s, Gooch is 10 shots ahead of a half-dozen players, including fellow American Brooks Koepka, and is determined not to ‘look like an idiot’ and choke on the final day.
“You don’t want to look like an idiot in front of a bunch of people, plain and simple,” Gooch told reporters on Saturday. “Whenever you’re doing something that you’ve worked your whole life for, you’re going to get nervous. I’ll definitely be nervous tomorrow, throughout.”
The 31-year-old’s Rangegoats GC, with fellow Americans Harold Varner (nine under) and Bubba Watson (seven under), is in first place of the 12 teams - with each quartet’s three best scores counting towards their total. They’re three shots clear of the Louis Oosthuizen-captained Stingers GC.
Australia’s Cam Smith and American Phil Mickelson are a shot further back at nine under, with Smith knowing that even if he shoots the proverbial lights out on Sunday, he could still fall short of the runaway leader. “Talor is playing some really good golf at the moment,” Smith said after signing for a six-under 66. “He would have to help us out a little bit which I don’t really wish on anyone.”
Smith is plotting a last-ditch assault, saying “I feel as though I’ve got the place pretty sorted in regards to how to play it. There is a really low number out there.” Mickelson, who signed for a seven-under 65 featuring eight birdies, was feted every step by a sell-out 35,000-strong crowd at the sandbelt course in Adelaide’s west.
“What I am appreciative of is how kind everybody has been and how the comments have been fun or funny and positive,” Mickelson said. “It has been fun to play in this environment. It helps break down the barrier between player and fans and brings them closer together.”
Smith’s all-Australian Ripper GC is in last place of the 12 teams, with Smith’s teammates Marc Leishman (four under), Matt Jones (one over) and Jed Morgan (three over) also battling to make individual inroads.
As the home hero chases an unlikely victory, Gooch has vowed not to ‘look like an idiot’ by choking on the final day. With his 10-shot lead, Gooch is in pole position to take home the $5.97 million winner’s cheque - but with Smith, Mickelson and Koepka all in contention, the competition is far from over.