What they said: A round-up of the best quotes from the third round of The RBC Heritage
- Matt Cooper
- 18 April 2021
Leader Stewart Cink, second-placed Collin Morikawa, Webb Simpson and the rest of the chasing pack give their thoughts ahead of the final day of action at Harbour Town Golf Links.
One way or another the final day of The RBC Heritage is going to provide a great story.
If Stewart Cink, with son Reagan on the bag, continues to plot a safe passage around Harbour Town Golf Links, and holes plenty of putts when he reaches the greens, then he will complete a hat trick of wins in the tournament and an emotional second victory of the season.
And if Cink is sunk, if the lighthouse behind the final green fails to deliver him safely into harbour, then the tale will be equally compelling, albeit from a very different perspective.
The 47-year-old veteran leads Collin Morikawa by five strokes on 18-under 195.
The year 1997:
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) April 17, 2021
Stewart Cink holds his first 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour
Collin Morikawa is born
They'll be in the final pairing together tomorrow.
It's a very healthy advantage and yet he will be wary because just two years ago the current World No. 1 Dustin Johnson led here after 54-holes and his response? He posted a Sunday 77 that left him T28th.
The waters beyond Hilton Head Island are perilous and so, too, are the trees around the golf course.
How will Cink approach the final round challenge? And what will be the approach of the chasers?
They answered those questions, and more, at the end of Saturday's play.
Stewart Cink: leader on 18-under 195
On his third round 69: "Not the hottest day with the putter, but under the circumstances it's not easy to remain totally freed up. It's something I can recognize and hopefully get better tomorrow. It's natural, it happens to everybody. Overall, I'm pleased with a solid round and didn't do a lot of damage."
On knowing from past experience that playing late in the day at Harbour Town is tricky and can help the early starters: "It's generally much more difficult later in the day because the greens are firmer and there's not as much hold in the grass. That's just the way it's been here for years and, if you're near the lead in this tournament on Saturday and Sunday, you've got to be prepared for that. I've been there and I know what it's like to be on the early wave. I've got to prepare (for someone to go low) and just keep being really solid."
On having a big lead: "I was in this situation about 17 years ago at Firestone. I remember sleeping little that night and I'm a little different person now. I'm treating this whole tournament with a little bit more gratitude, Reagan caddying and all that stuff. I'm enjoying it more than fretting over it. It will still be a rollercoaster tomorrow emotionally. I want to embrace that instead of fighting against it."
On the pressure of leading: "I've been there before. I've certainly been nervous and thrown up on myself, but I've also played great in that situation. You know, it's a lot better to enjoy it, to feel the tingle, as opposed to trying to act like it's not there. That's just going to consume you."
Collin Morikawa: second on 13-under 200
On his Saturday front nine struggle: "Things actually weren't looking too good. Putts were off, everything was a little off, I had to get it turned around. A course like this, you've got to make birdies or else you're going backwards. Thankful to get three in a row and give myself at least somewhat of a shot come tomorrow."
On what he did to turn it around: "The very short putt that I missed on seven, that was just a horrific stroke. Things were getting a little quick. Saw a bunch of guys making birdies and it kind of got in my head. That's a rookie mistake I should really never make. So I just calmed down, changed a little thing in my putting, and obviously it worked out."
On how he'll attach the final round: "I've got to put some pressure on at the beginning. If I go out and shoot even-par like I did on the front nine today, it's not going to get the job done no matter how many birdies I make on the back. I'm going to probably need a little help from (Cink). But there's 62s, 63s out on this golf course, I just have to go out there and find it."
Emiliano Grillo: third on 12-under 201
On playing his first 47 holes this week without a bogey: "I was definitely thinking about it. I just wanted to keep going without bogeys. But it's not one of the easiest golf course, so I know I'm not going to walk off this golf course without any bogeys, otherwise it would have been a phenomenal week."
On chasing Cink: "Stewart is playing some amazing golf. It looks like he's not making many mistakes. But this is what we play for, just being there in the mix and having the opportunity. I'm going to try to make the most out of it. He's going to have to go out and earn it."
Matt Wallace: tied fourth with Sungjae Im on 11-under 202
On bouncing back from a flat second round: "Yesterday we were just lethargic and it showed. We birdied the first and it was like we thought it was just going to carry on for the day, but we didn't give it enough energy and you need that around here on the golf course. So, we had a little chat yesterday, (caddie) Lordy and myself. We gave it a little bit more energy today, more focus and concentration.
On the final round plan: "I've just got to take care of myself and if that gives me a chance with nine holes to go, not even nine holes, with four, five holes to go, because anything can happen around those last four, five holes. That's my thinking."
Webb Simpson, defending champion: tied sixth on 10-under 203
On his Saturday 64: "It was funny. I was a little off with ball-striking early on, but I was making putts. First round I didn't make any putts. Yesterday I putted better. Today was a lot better. Just gave myself good opportunities on the back nine and the putts started going in."
Big moves from the defending champ. 💪
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 17, 2021
A Saturday 7-under for @WebbSimpson1. pic.twitter.com/UwLKbRrjzL
On his suddenly-changed tournament perspective: "I wasn't even thinking about Stewart Cink or the leaders when I went out today because I was so far back. Happy with where I am now."
