Sam Greenwood(Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)CHARLOTTE — Hideki Matsuyama didn't have his best stuff Saturday in the third round of the 99th PGA Championship, but he did his best to stay within striking range of the lead. That in itself was a win for Japan's brightest talent.
Keeping the big numbers off his scorecard while the little ones escaped him, Matsuyama dug deep for a two-over 73 at harrowing Quail Hollow Club and will begin Sunday's final round one stroke behind Kevin Kisner, with whom he shared the second-round lead. Matsuyama scored one measly birdie, at the par-5 seventh hole, after lighting up the course for a bogey-free 64 on Friday.
With only one player, Louis Oosthuizen, among the top 15 on the leaderboard with a major title, the year's final major is up for grabs. But while playing partner Jason Day fell off the pace with a quadruple-bogey 8 on the final hole, Matsuyama remained within reach of becoming the first player from Japan to win a majo..

Scott HalleranMoving Day at the 99th PGA Championship grinded to a halt as par became everyone's friend at a tough Quail Hollow. But there were still plenty of things to talk about, including a Cinderella story and two shots involving trees — one jaw-droppingly difficult and another jaw-droppingly dumb. Let's get to it all with our latest edition of winners and losers.
Winner: Kevin Kisner
The Kiz played his final three holes in three over — and needed a lucky bounce off a bridge or it would have been worse — but if you start a round tied for the lead and you end it in first place by yourself, it's a good day. Playing in the final group with World No. 3 Hideki Matsuyama and former World No. 1 Jason Day, Kisner looked at ease. And as he goes for his first top-10 finish at a major, let alone his first victory, he'll tee it up with a slightly less intimidating figure in the final pairing on Sunday. Speaking of. . .
Winner: Chris Stroud
REMINDER: Less than a week ago..

Sam GreenwoodCHARLOTTE, NC – AUGUST 12: Kevin Kisner of the United States plays his shot from the 11th tee during the third round of the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club on August 12, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)If you asked Kevin Kisner if he would be happy with a one-over 72 on moving day at the PGA Championship, he'd almost certainly tell you no. But that's all he needed on Saturday at Quail Hollow, which played as challenging as it has all week with its lightning quick greens and treacherous pin positions. The two-time tour winner leads by one stroke at seven-under 206.
Kisner, 33, was unflappable through 11 holes of his third round, playing them in one under without making a bogey. That's when things got interesting, as he dropped his first shot of the day at the par-4 12th. He bounced back with two birdies at the 14th and 15th, but then made his worst swing of the day on his approach shot at the opening hole of ..

Stuart Franklin(Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)CHARLOTTE — It's been two months since Rory McIlroy has returned from injury, a rib ailment caused by equipment testing in the offseason. However, while the 28-year-old has posted a handful of top-5 finishes in return, whispers abound that his health remains a problem.
In one regard, this makes sense: the injury already sidelined him twice this campaign, and issues such as these tend to linger. Conversely, it doesn't seem to be hampering McIlroy when he unleashes 365-yard drives.
McIlroy shed a bit of light on the matter after a 73 on Saturday at Quail Hollow, his third consecutive round over par at the PGA Championship. When asked after his round how long it would take McIlroy to get back to full strength — a bit of a loaded question, implying he's less than 100 percent — the four-time major winner was candid in assessment.
“Looking forward to 2018,” he replied.
Oof. So much for banking on a FedEx Cup title defense..

Streeter Lecka(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)CHARLOTTE — Jon Rahm has been a pro for 14 months. Let that marinate for a second. Just 22, with two worldwide wins on the season, he is making his tournament debut at the PGA Championship. Got it? Exhale.
As noted earlier this week, golf's hype machine can get overheated. An opinion embodied by Rahm. With his victory at Torrey Pines—along with a handful of impressive outings at Pebble Beach, Phoenix, Mexico and Austin—many liked Rahm to break the Masters' rookie slump. Those prospects were amplified at Erin Hills, its length, open confines and elevated greens seemingly suited to the Spaniard's game. Same goes for Birkdale after he took Ireland by storm.
Yet, with one day of major-championship play left in 2017, it's safe to say those major ambitions were overzealous, as Rahm needs a Sunday charge just to record his first top-25 major finish as a professional.
As conveyed above, this is not a knock on Rahm's c..

Icon SportswireCHARLOTTE, NC – AUGUST 11: Webb Simpson eyes his putt on the 10th green during 2nd round action at the PGA Championship at the Quail Hollow Club on August 11, 2017 in Charlotte, NC. (Photo by Doug Buffington/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Firmed up greens, thick rough, and difficult pin positions turned moving day at the 99th PGA Championship into more of a stalemate. And Quail Hollow member Webb Simpson, for one, questioned his home course's setup for the year's final major.
“The setup has been too tough for a PGA, to be honest,” Simpson said following a third-round 72 that left him at five over for the tournament.
Simpson's quote was part of a series of comments in which he explained that this year's PGA felt more like a U.S. Open. Here's what else the four-time PGA Tour winner had to say.
“I could tell starting a few weeks back they were growing the rough up. I don't know if the intent to make it this difficult, but it's really har..