Sweden’s Robert Karlsson bogeyed the last two holes on Saturday to shrink his lead to one stroke heading into the final round of the St Jude Classic.
Karlsson, who lost in a three-way playoff last year, carded a two-under 68 for 11-under 199 through 54 holes, just good enough to hold off the charge of Harrison Frazar of the US, who fired a 64 for 200.
Frazar birdied three of the last four holes and had seven birdies against a lone bogey in the third round.
Two strokes farther back was John Merrick of the US, who posted 67 for 202, one stroke better than two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen of South Africa.
Goosen also registered 64, vaulting up the leaderboard with four birdies in a row from the 14th.
Another Swede, Fredrik Jacobson, was tied for fifth with Keegan Bradley of the US on 204.
Karlsson, who has 11 international victories, was unfazed by the finish to his round.
“You’re going to make a mistake here and there,” Karlsson said. “I’m very, very happy with the way I’m playing.”
The Swede said he was not scoreboard watching as his lead slipped from five strokes to one.
“We sum up the golf tournament tomorrow evening,” he said. “If I shoot 80 tomorrow, I might be 50th. If I shoot 60, I’ll probably win.”
The 39-year-old Frazar, looking for his first USPGA Tour win, said Karlsson looked so far out in front that the other players relaxed a bit and started playing better.
“About halfway through the round today, we kind of looked up and Robert was taking off again,” Frazar said. “Most of us out there probably ... kind of forgot about trying to win the golf tournament.”
Frazar finished by rolling in a 42-footer to birdie the last.
“Went right in the center. Jumped in there like a rabbit,” he said.
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