& # 039; The good, the bad and the average & # 039; – Wallace & # 039; s Player's diary
Matt Wallace recovered from a bogey with the first to shoot 70 at the Players Championship on Saturday. The Players Championship. Game Mode: Players Stadium Course, TPC Sawgrass Date: March 14-17. Coverage: live text commentary and in-play highlights during the third and final round on Saturday and Sunday on the BBC Sport website, plus regular updates of the course on BBC Radio 5 Live
Matt Wallace from the UK shot a double par 70 in the third round of his debut in the Players Championship to go down to four at Sawgrass in Florida. 28-year-old Londoner was playing a crucial par-putt at the time, which he said in his Player Journal for BBC Sport, giving him an important momentum for Sunday's final round.
I thought of the headline for this. I walked into the last hole: & # 39; The good, the bad and the average & # 39 ;.
Three birds and one bogey were relatively boring and not very exciting for me, but I enjoyed it and there were plenty of positive points.
It was another gravel that was there, but I played well and after Friday, when my pace was so bad, I got the speed of the greens perfectly. There were some very long ones that I placed in the right range.
That was very nice – I was back to my usual standards on the greens. If I can give myself a few birdie opportunities in the final round, there may be a low point.
I still drive very well. I managed to save myself when I needed it sometimes and that comes down to beating some good chips and putts. But I just haven't stood anything yet.
The 16th was a good example. I hit a great ride down there and it ended at the first cut of the rough right at the edge.
If it had remained semi-rough or had gone all the way in the rough, it would have been fine and although I had made a birdie, I could not really attack it from there.
The switch to a northerly wind is definitely for a draw and I hit a fade, so I struggled a bit on some holes. I played with Corey Conners and it was the best driving display I have ever seen, he was relentless with his small draw.
Although it was an early start on a Saturday, I could not possibly lower my intensity. This is the players' championship and every shot counts, every position means something because there are big points on the world ranking for the taking.
And the crowd was there at 9 o'clock. So you want to set up a show and play some good things.
If you do not concentrate and you are not outside to play well at this place, you will shoot very high scores, it is as simple as that. I hope the wind runs out in the afternoon, because that will help improve my position.
The hole of those eleven feet at the end was large. I played the wrong way with my eight-iron approach so didn't make the best of another big ride.
I will especially remember the 17th hole because I had exactly the same break as the famous double breaker that Tiger Woods in 2001. He went to the right and mine stayed upright, I couldn't believe it – what was there going on?
But I was so happy with my last opening on the green. That gives me something to go into on Sunday – it certainly gives me momentum for the final round.
Matt Wallace spoke with BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter.