Shriners Open: Matthew Wolff sizzles with three eagles on back nine

Matthew Wolff caught fire on the back nine on Saturday at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. And when he finished, he had the lead.

Through two rounds at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, Matthew Wolff was hanging around, although he found himself six shots behind the leaders heading into Saturday’s third round. He wasn’t completely out of it, but he needed something special to happen over the final 36 holes to get himself into contention.

His front nine on Saturday was fine, but nothing special. He opened with pars at the first and second holes to stay at 8-under for the tournament. He birdied the par-4 third hole, getting to 1-under on the day and 9-under for the tournament.

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Wolff would then par five consecutive holes, the fourth through the eighth, to stay at that number. He closed his front nine with a birdie on the par-5 ninth hole, getting to 2-under on his round and 10-under for the tournament.

And then, Wolff got hot. Well, hot would be an understatement. Torrid. On Fire. Sizzling. Those would be more accurate adjectives.

His back nine opened with a birdie on the par-4 10th hole, as Wolff hit his second shot to about eight feet and ran in the putt. Then on the par-4 11th hole, Wolff hit his drive 331 yards into the fairway. Then, from 116 yards, he hit his shot just past the hole, and it spun back into the cup for an eagle. At that point, Wolff was 5-under on his round and 13-under for the tournament.

Wolff was nowhere near done. After a par on the 12th hole, he played the par-5 13th almost to perfection. He drove the ball in the fairway, hit the green in two, then rolled in an 18-foot putt for eagle, his second eagle in three holes, and he was suddenly 7-under on his round.

He would par the 14th hole before driving the par-4 15th hole. Wolff then rolled in his 15-foot putt for eagle, his third eagle in five holes and he was 9-under on his round.

Wolff would birdie the par-5 16th hole to get to 10-under on his round. At that point, a 59 was not out of the question with two holes to play.

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However, Wolff would par the 17th and the 18th to finish with a 10-under par 61, including an 8-under 28 on the back side. That round propelled him from 40th place to first all in one day, although a number of players remained on the course when Wolff finished.

He will enter Sunday’s final round with a much better chance to win than he did wen Saturday’s round started. All thanks to a sizzling 28 on his back nine and a 10-under par round of 61 overall.

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