Continuing an excellent season, his first on the North American professional circuit (PGA), Matthieu Pavon is ideally placed to achieve the best result of his career at a major tournament before the final round of the US Open on Sunday. The Frenchman moved to second place in the rankings, which no French golfer had achieved in the history of the third major of the season.
Pavon can even dream of success on the intractable course of Pinehurst, in North Carolina, which would make him the second Frenchman, among men, to win a major, more than 100 years after Arnaud Massy’s triumph at the British Open in 1907. His compatriot Grégory Havret took 2nd place in the US Open in 2010, on another course (Pebble Beach).
Pavon, aged 31, won the Torrey Pines tournament in January then placed 12th in the prestigious Masters in April, two unprecedented results for a French golfer. The Frenchman returned a card of 69 (1 under par) on Saturday, thanks to three birdies on the first half of the course, before making two bogeys afterwards.
“The course shows its teeth, it is difficult (…) I had ups and downs today (Saturday), but I am happy with my score“, he commented. “Discipline and patience are the keys to the week, it’s the biggest lesson I’ve learned since arriving on the PGA Tour.“
DeChambeau in ideal position
At the top of the rankings, Bryson DeChambeau had a superb day (67) with six birdies, but tarnished by a double bogey at hole no. 16 which prevented him from completely taking off. “Amazing, I made a lot of really good putts. I try to play ‘boring’ golf. The middle of the greens is stable, so I aim there to ensure the shot in two putts“, detailed the winner of the 2020 US Open, who now plays for the competing LIV circuit, financed by Saudi Arabia.
Behind him, Pavon shares second place three shots with the Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy and the American Patrick Cantlay. McIlroy (35), world No. 3 and winner of the tournament in 2011, is seeking to end more than ten years of drought in major tournaments.
In the lead after the 2nd round, the young Swede Ludvig Aberg (24 years old) is in 5th place, five shots from the lead due in particular to a triple bogey at hole N.13. Only eight players are under par after three rounds, a rarity, on a difficult course with domed greens that buried many hopes.
