Cameron Smith, eyeing No. 1 rating, two pictures again in FedEx St. Jude Championship

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Open champion Cameron Smith has spent all week ignoring queries about studies he would be the newest to depart the PGA Tour for Saudi-funded LIV Golf. His solely concern was making an attempt to win the FedEx Cup playoffs.

Now there’s one other perk at stake: No. 1 on this planet.

Whilst J.J. Spaun picked up a pair of late birdies for a 2-under 68 to foremost a one-shot lead over Sepp Straka, and Will Zalatoris moved into rivalry for his first PGA Tour title, Smith is who bought everybody’s consideration Saturday within the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

He birdied his final gap for a 67, leaving him amongst these two pictures out of the lead and absolutely conscious {that a} win takes him to No. 1 on this planet.

“That is been considered one of my objectives in all probability because the begin of the yr is to attempt to get to that high spot,” Smith stated. “Try to chase it down.”

Every week that started with a federal decide delivering a blow to LIV Golf by denying the request from three of its gamers to be a part of the postseason might very nicely finish with a brand new No. 1 that seems headed for the rival collection.

Distractions aren’t an issue for the Aussie, and there’s no scarcity of them.

“There’s undoubtedly been a number of extra, however for me, I am simply making an attempt to hit the perfect shot I can,” Smith stated. “That is what I am right here to do is to hit good golf pictures and make birdies.”

Spaun had a two-putt birdie on the par-5 16th and holed an 18-foot birdie putt on the subsequent gap to say the 54-hole lead a 13-under 197. Straka was proper there with him till he failed to save lots of par from the bunker on the 18th for a 68 that left him one shot behind.

Each are first-time winners on the PGA Tour this yr, and a victory in a FedEx Cup playoffs carries much more weight — $2.7 million to the winner and a assured spot at East Lake for the FedEx Cup finale.

Zalatoris is simply as hungry for a win. He has been a troublesome buyer within the majors, dropping in a playoff on the PGA Championship and ending one again within the U.S. Open. He’s No. 14 on this planet. And he has but to win on the PGA Tour.

Zalatoris opened with a 71 that put him in such a gap that even his fiancee wished to know their plans if he did not make it to the weekend.

“I advised her, ‘Let’s cross that bridge when he get there,'” Zalatoris stated with a smile. He determined to let his new caddie, Joel Inventory, learn putts of their second official spherical collectively. Zalatoris shot a 63 and adopted with a 65 on Saturday.

He additionally was two behind, together with Trey Mullinax (66).

As for the chase to the subsequent playoff occasion, take into account Tyler Duncan. He’s No. 118 within the FedEx Cup, and solely the highest 70 transfer on to the BMW Championship subsequent week in Delaware. Duncan had a 67 and was tied for sixth. He was three behind, and even when he does not win, he can transfer on if he can maintain his place.

Ryan Palmer had a 32 on the again 9 to salvage a 69 leaving him on the cusp of the highest 70 that can advance.

There are 16 gamers separated by 4 pictures, a gaggle that features Sam Burns and Tony Finau. A winner in his final two begins, Finau ended his streak of 11 rounds at 68 or decrease. He made a bogey on the final gap gave him a 69, leaving him 4 behind.

Nobody stands out like Smith, for thus many causes. Not solely is it his first begin since being launched at St. Andrews because the “champion golfer of the yr,” the Every day Telegraph reported Tuesday that he had signed with LIV and would be a part of the defectors exterior Boston after the Tour Championship is over.

Smith has steadfastly refused to speak about it.

“I am a person of my phrase and everytime you guys must know something, it’s going to be stated by me,” Smith stated Tuesday. That was shortly earlier than a California federal decide denied a request by three LIV golfers to play within the FedEx Cup playoffs.

Nonetheless, the Saudi discuss and the disruption in golf is tough to disregard. Palmer was ending up his interview and discussing the deserves of making an attempt to maneuver into the highest 70 and keep within the hunt for the highest 30 who advance to the Tour Championship at East Lake.

Smith was on deck, standing inside earshot, about 10 toes away. Palmer turned extra passionate concerning the FedEx Cup playoffs, and it in all probability wasn’t a coincidence.

“That is what I really like about what we do out right here,” Palmer stated. “There’s all the time someplace to go up and there is all the time one thing to play for. Win every week, transfer into the highest 70, shifting to East Lake. That is what’s good concerning the PGA Tour is there’s someplace to go. We’re not taking part in for simply cash. It is nice.”