Former world No. 1 Luke Donald had a one-shot lead going into the final round of the RBC Heritage after a two-under-par 69 over Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, South Carolina, on Saturday to lead Americans Jason Kokrak and Charley Hoffman by one stroke.
Seven players were within three shots of the lead, but that did not include current world No. 1 Jason Day.
The overnight coleader opened with a bogey and things went downhill from there. In a round that included a double-bogey at the third, he made six of his eight bogeys on the back nine en route to a 79 that left him tied for 40th.
Photo: AP / Jay Karr / The Island Packet
Day said that when he knew he had played himself out of contention for the title, he concentrated on not distracting playing partner Kevin Chappell, who is seeking a first PGA Tour title.
“I really wanted to stay out of Kevin’s way,” Day said. “I know that he really wants to win a tournament. He’s had two second-place finishes already this year. And my bad play, I just felt like it may have affected him.”
Chappell carded a four-over 75 that included two double-bogeys on the back nine to fall five shots off the pace.
Donald has five top-three finishes without a victory at Harbour Town. Hoffman let a 54-hole lead get away in 2013.
“I haven’t been in this position as much as I would have liked the last couple of years, but certainly I have been in this position many times and I’ll draw from that,” said Donald, who has not won on the US or European Tour since 2012 and is now ranked 95th in the world.
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