Jordan Smith is on course for a wire-to-wire victory after carding another 62 in spite of a bogey at the last hole to reach 22-under in the Portugal Masters, his best-ever 54-hole total.
62-67-62 ✍️
Jordan Smith will take a two-shot lead into the final round.#PortugalMasters pic.twitter.com/DKONdWqvfU
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) October 29, 2022
“It’s a lot of good stuff,” said the Englishman. “It’s the best I’ve putted for a long, long time. I just needed one more roll on the last so I’m really disappointed about that.
“If (the win) happens, then brilliant, it’s the cherry on the cake this year. If it doesn’t then there’s going to be another week when it might happen.
“I’m just going to go out there and play the attacking golf that I’ve done the last three days, hitting driver everywhere and taking advantage of the soft greens. If it happens, it happens.”
Smith has had two runner-up finished this year so far but he has yet to win and is currently 14th in the rankings. He won his only DP World Tour title at the 2017 Porsche European Open.
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Malaysia’s Gavin Green, who co-led with Smith overnight, carded a 64 and lies in second place at 20-under.
“It would mean the world (to win).
“Everybody is going to want to win, but I think staying in the present and the process is the most important thing for me tomorrow.”
Germany’s Sebastian Heisele, playing his last event, is in solo third place at 17-under after closing with a 65.
“Retirement incoming. Tomorrow’s going to be my last round and I’m just here to enjoy myself really.
“(A win) isn’t going to change anything to me. I’m going to be moving on to coaching, I got my certificate two weeks ago.
“Happy days for me. I’ve loved my time here, but that’s going to be it.”
Eddie Pepperell’s 67 placed the Englisman in a share of fourth place at 15-under alongside Finland‘s Tapio Pulkkanen (68), Germany‘s Hurly Long (66) and Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat (63).
