Luke Donald seeks RBC Heritage win to put him back on track

As Luke Donald strode to the 18th green on Sunday, the public address announcer introduced him as the former No. 1 player in the world.

The line might have stung a few years ago, but Donald has accepted his place in the game and is working to improve it. Now, he’d just like to work his way back into the top 50.

He has a chance Sunday. In tough conditions during the third round of the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing, Donald shot a 2-under-par 69 and is 7 under, a shot clear of Jason Kokrak and Charley Hoffman.

Eleven players are within four shots of the lead to start the final round. All are within reach of Donald, whose past three 54-hole leads have each been at Harbour Town Golf Links. None resulted in victory, however.

He is trying to close this one and certify some of the work on his game in recent years. No. 1 is in the rear view, at least for now.

“I’m not in a position to really challenge for that right now,” said Donald, after four birdies and two bogeys Saturday. “I certainly feel like I can work my way back toward that quite a bit.”

Saturday brought the toughest scoring conditions for the three rounds. Harbour Town played more than a shot harder than it did the first two rounds, a scoring average of 73.6.

More wind and tight pins contributed to the higher numbers. Greens already firm from a recent renovation are only getting harder and faster, Donald said.

Current World No. 1 Jason Day, who shared the 36-hole lead, delivered one of his worst rounds as a professional. His 8-over 79 leaves him nine shots back on Sunday.

The last time Donald slept on a lead Saturday night, Matt Kuchar beat him by holing a bunker shot on the 72nd hole in 2014. The time before that, Brandt Snedeker beat him in a playoff in 2011.

Charley Hoffman is also trying to close at Harbour Town and brush off his Sunday struggles this year.

Hoffman led here after 54 holes in 2013 before a Sunday 77. His Sunday scoring average in seven events this year is 74.7.

“I’ve been getting in my own way,” Hoffman said. “Hopefully I can reach down deep.”

Recent history favors those lingering in the pack, the past three winners all coming from four shots behind to win.

Jim Furyk in 2015 and Graeme McDowell in 2013 won in playoffs. Kuchar dunked his bunker shot in 2014.

Snedeker was six back in 2011 when he beat Donald in a playoff. Both Kuchar and Snedeker shot 64 on the final day in clipping Donald.

With conditions expected to be relatively calm, Donald is prepared for a charge.

“I’ve got to go out there and be aggressive,” he said. “I can’t sit out and think pars are good enough.”

There will be plenty of hungry pursuers.

Kokrak, a shot back, is chasing his first PGA Tour victory. Patton Kizzire is only two back and has four runner-up finishes in his first PGA Tour season.

And Zach Johnson is 4 under and looking for his first victory since the 2015 British Open.

“I’d love to get a plaid jacket,” Kizzire said. “I’ve dreamed about winning trophies and jackets and all kinds of stuff. I’m going to try to pick off some birdies when they come and limit mistakes.”

Donald has five PGA Tour victories but none since 2012, when he was ranked No. 1 in the world. In the past three years, the 2014 Heritage was his only runner-up finish.

He hasn’t posted a top-10 this year but feels he is closer.

“Certainly I feel like my golf is trending in the right way, in the right direction,” Donald said.

This story was originally published April 16, 2016 at 8:13 PM with the headline "Luke Donald seeks RBC Heritage win to put him back on track."