TULSA, Okla. — The most unpredictable major of the last several years has broken out at Southern Hills Country Club as we enter the final round of the 2022 PGA Championship. Mito Pereira (-9), who was 175-1 to win this time last week on Caesars Sportsbook, is somehow up three strokes after 54 holes while battling the best players on planet. He’s also suddenly a nearly odds-on favorite to take home his first PGA Tour win in the biggest spot imaginable.
Pereira closed like we thought the better players behind him might. He made three birdies over his last six holes after a winding stretch in the middle of his round made him look vulnerable and exposed to potential runs from Justin Thomas, Will Zalatoris and (briefly) Rory McIlroy. It was the stuff of champions, and his reward now is an experienced chase pack that will be as nervy as he is in just his second major championship start.
What’s even crazier than Pereira leading is the fact that the entire top six on the 54-hole leaderboard have combined to win just two PGA Tour events and zero majors in their careers. The final two pairings from the 2021 PGA Championship had twice as many major championship wins (10) as this year’s final two pairings have major championship top 10s (five).
Is Mito Pereira (!) really going to win a major championship? That’s the question floating around Southern Hills right now, and the answer is that it’s certainly within the realm of possibility. Even if he doesn’t, somebody will almost certainly experience a life-changing day on Sunday because of the following stat: The last 33 major champions have all either led or been within four of the lead after 54 holes.
If that stat holds, then either Pereira, Zalatoris, Matthew Fitzpatrick or Cameron Young will have a major championship trophy on Sunday night. If it doesn’t, something truly historic will have happened.
Either way, Sunday will be special…
Source : cbssports
