What they said after the third round of the U.S. Open
San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Kevin Chappell is quietly putting together a nice U.S. Open resume. He carded a 2-under 68 on Saturday to move into a share of eighth place after 54 holes of the season's second major.
Chappell, who finished three rounds at 3-over 213, was able to do something nobody else has done this week at The Olympic Club - he posted a bogey-free round.
"As easy as I could have made it," Chappell said of his round.
Last year, Chappell carded a five-under 66 to climb into a share of third place. Sure he was 10 shots back, but the third-place finish got him into the field this year.
"Different golf tournament," Chappell stated. "Last year we were trying to make birdies in the U.S. Open, and here you're trying to just survive. If I can go out tomorrow and play a round of golf like I did today, we'll see what happens."
Otherwise, Chappell would have needed to make it through the qualifiers to make this field. He has twice shared 24th place this year, at Riviera and Bay Hill, for his best finishes of the season.
Chappell is just 137th on the PGA Tour money list this year after finishing 69th last year.
The money list ,and the world rankings for that matter, don't mean much this week, and Chappell is proof enough of that.
Here's what other players were saying after the third round of the 112th U.S. Open.
- TIGER WOODS, who struggled with the speed of the greens all day: "I struggled on the greens today, quite a bit. They looked quick, but they putted slow. But they were firmer than they were yesterday. So it was a tough, tough feel for me to adjust to and it was amazing how all day I kept getting a half club. Just one of those days where I was right in between clubs on about every single shot. Just never quite had the right number."
- BEAU HOSSLER, the 17-year-old amateur that is tied for eighth place thinks he can be the first amateur to win this championship since Johnny Goodman in 1933: "I still have the goal to be low amateur, but my goal now is to win the tournament. There's not a doubt in my mind. Got to go out there and do everything right mentally and physically, but it's definitely out there for me."
- JORDAN SPIETH, who has made the cut in three of five PGA Tour events, but is playing in his first major: "I don't know how to really compare it. It's different, quite a bit different."
- CASEY WITTENBERG, who matched the low round of the day with his 67: "It's a hard golf course. You just got to keep everything out in front of you and just play golf. Take your opportunities when they come and fortunately today I hit some good iron shots that gave me some more opportunities than I had earlier in the week, and I was able to make some putts."
- DAVID TOMS, the former PGA Champion who struggled to a 76 on Saturday: "It just got really firm. I think that was part of my problem today, I kept trying to stretch my iron shots to be able to keep from hitting them over the greens. So every time I was in between clubs I always hit the shorter one to try to hit it hard and it didn't work out too well."
