Viktor Hovland, aside from the No. 10 Matt Fitzpatrick, is the highest-ranked player (11th) on the Monterey Peninsula this week for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
And it looks like he’s going to be part of the conversation when it’s crunch time.
Hovland, who won the 2018 U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach and claimed low amateur at the 2019 U.S. Open, opened the event with a 2-under 70 at Spyglass Hill before firing a 4-under 67 at Monterey Peninsula Country Club.
Due to the weather, Hovland’s day was done Saturday after making the turn with a 2-under 34 at Pebble Beach.
He’s four back of the lead, tied for sixth.
The man he’s chasing is Peter Malnati, a player whose one and only win on Tour came all the way back in 2016 at the Sanderson Farms. Before a solid week at the Farmers Insurance Open (T-20), Malnati had missed five cuts in seven events this season, including four straight.
The 35-year-old, like Hovland, played Pebble on Saturday and had himself a round (or, at least, part of one). Starting on No. 10, Malnati birdied Nos. 11-13 and turned with a 3-under 33. He then birdied Nos. 1-3 and was 18 feet away from another birdie on No. 4 when the horn blew.
Sandwiched in between Malnati and Hovland (T-6) are Joseph Bramlett and Keith Mitchell at 10 under, and Hank Lebioda and Kurt Kitayama at 9 under.
If you missed Saturday’s half day of action, no worries, we have you covered. Find a recap of day three at Pebble below.