Live PGA Updates | Koepka takes a one-stroke lead in the back nine at the PGA Championship

PITTSFORD, NY (AP) — Brooks Koepka is nine holes away from his third PGA Championship.

Koepka reached the corner at Oak Hill with a one-stroke lead over Viktor Hovland after a somewhat uneven front nine. Koepka notched three straight birdies to open up a three-stroke advantage before back-to-back bogeys at No.6 and No.7 brought Hovland back within striking distance.

Hovland, 25, is trying to become Norway’s first major men’s champion.

World No. 2 Scottie Scheffler and 2020 US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau are three strokes back as they head into the final stages of what has been a tense week on the East Course.

Koepka is seeking his fifth major and first since winning the 2019 PGA at Bethpage Black. He lost a two-stroke lead in the final round at Augusta National in April, a meltdown he likened to a “choke.”

Several of the best players in the field set up a charge Sunday on an Oak Hill course softened by steady rain during the third round.

Sepp Straka and Cameron Smith both posted 5 under 65s to go under par for the tournament. Eighteen players have already carded rounds of 1-under 69 or better with most of the favorites still on the course. Only seven players beat par in the soggy third round.

___

Brooks Koepka got off to a strong start in the final round of the PGA Championship, giving him some breathing room as he chases a fifth major title.

Koepka started his final tour of the East Course with a par on the first hole before notching three straight birdies to go 9 under par. It is three shots ahead of his playing partner Viktor Hovland.

Koepka started the day hoping to avoid a repeat of his performance in the final round of the Masters last month when he let a two-stroke lead slip away.

As several players fall under Koepka in the standings, his closest pursuers have lost the rhythm a bit. Hovland is the only player within four shots of Koepka as both reach the middle of the front nine.

Defending British Open champion Cam Smith puts up the best run of the week at Oak Hill, par 70. He has seven birdies against a single bogey to move to 6 under for the day and 2 under for the tournament.

___

Brooks Koepka’s pursuit of a third PGA Championship is ongoing. He may have to go down to close it at Oak Hill, who suddenly forgives.

Koepka entered the final round with a one stroke lead over Viktor Hovland and Corey Conners on the East Course. Koepka, 33, is looking for his fifth major title and his first since winning the PGA in 2019.

Seven players started the day within five strokes of the lead, including grand champions Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy.

The standings became a little more crowded as several players who started the day off pace enjoyed a run that was softened by steady rain on Saturday.

Victor Perez birdied four straight on the front nine to move to 3 under. He was joined there by Justin Rose, who birdied the first to come within three shots of Koepka.

Cam Smith set the tone from the start. The defending British Open champion started with a 4-under 32 on the front nine. He is joined at 1 by Xander Schauffele, who has three birdies against zero bogeys over 14 holes.

___

Conditions are proving ideal at Oak Hill, with the early groups enjoying a relative birdie fest in the final round of the PGA Championship.

Led by Cameron Smith and Adam Scott, who both have 4 under on the day, there are 19 competitors shooting under par on an East course that allowed just nine scores at 69 or better on Saturday. Third round leader Brooks Koepka (66) and Tommy Fleetwood (68) were the only two to shoot 2 under or better in round three.

Smith, the 2022 British Open champion, moved into a tie for eighth with birdies on four of his first six holes to move into a tie for the tournament. Scott moved into a tie for 19th by improving to 2 for the tournament with four birdies over 14 holes.

The difference is the weather. Oak Hill is drying up after the third round was played amid persistent rain and a few showers, which forced course workers to scrape several fairways and greens where water had accumulated.

The sun has been out all day, and the temperature is expected to climb to 74 by the time the last group of Koepka and Viktor Hovland is scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. EDT.

___

Time broke at Oak Hill ahead of the final round of the PGA Championship.

Brooks Koepka shot a 4-under 66 in the third round on the soggy East Course to reach 6-under for the tournament. Koepka has a one shot lead over Viktor Hovland and Corey Conners as he chases his fifth major championship and third PGA title.

Koepka, 33, is also looking for some redemption after letting the 54-hole lead slip away at the Masters in April.

Only seven players will start the final round under par after a rain-soaked third round that ranked among the toughest on the PGA in the past 20 years.

Major championship winners Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler are among those within five strokes of the lead.

Club pro Michael Block is six shots behind. The 46-year-old has held three consecutive rounds of 70 pars. Block is currently tied for eighth, the first professional club to finish in the top 10 over 54 holes in 33 years.

Conditions should ease a bit at Oak Hill. The sun is expected throughout the day with temperatures reaching 70 degrees.

___

AP Golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports