Justin Lower goes low, Nico Echavarria looks to go back-to-back and more from 2024 World Wide Technology Championship

11/09/2024 05:32 PM

We’re 18 holes away from crowing a winner of the 2024 World Wide Technology Championship in Mexico, and the top of the leaderboard is as congested as Los Angeles traffic.

Justin Lower, Nico Echavarria and Carson Young are tied for the lead at 16 under, but there are three players tied for fourth at 15 under, one back, and two more at 14 under, two back. A large group primed to pounce if the leaders hit a few speedbumps during their rounds Sunday.

Echavarria, a 30-year-old from Columbia, won the Zozo Championship in Japan two weeks ago, his second PGA Tour win in as many seasons (2023 Puerto Rico Open). Now he’s just one round away from winning in back-to-back starts and a career-changing year.

Some of the names hoping to make a charge over the last dozen-and-a-half holes are Austin Eckroat (15 under), Max Greyserman (15 under) and Maverick McNealy (14 under).

If you missed any of the action Saturday, no worries we have you covered. Here are a few things to know from the third round of the World Wide Technology Championship.

WWTC: Leaderboard | Photo gallery

Notes from third round of World Wide Technology Championship

Echavarria’s in the zone

It’s tough to travel across the world and play consistent golf, but don’t tell Echavarria that. Two weeks ago he was in Japan hoisting hardware at the Zozo. Now, he’s more than 6,300 miles from Accordia Golf Narashino, once again in position to earn a trophy.

He started with a birdie at the par-5 first on Saturday and added one more before making the turn with a 2-under 34. On his way home, Echavarria birdied Nos. 10 and 12, and made six straight pars to close his day.

“There’s going to be nerves (on Sunday), it’s normal,” he told the media after signing his card. “I’ve been in this position luckily, I’ve gotten it done. It’s just a matter of being calm, controlling the nerves because there are going to be nerves. Hopefully there’s wind because I like playing in wind. I think I can manage the wind pretty well out here. So we’ll see. I won’t change my strategy, but maybe good golf will be enough.”

The last player to win back-to-back starts on Tour was Rory McIlroy earlier this year at the Zurich Classic and Truist Championship (formally known as the Wells Fargo).

Justin Lower looks for No. 1

Lower is a name you’re probably use to seeing on the leaderboard, but he’s still looking for his first Tour win. He’s been in the mix a decent amount this year with six top-25 finishes and three top-10s. But through three rounds south of the border, he’s in position to finally put a tally in the win column.

The 35-year-old opened the WWTC with a ho-hum 2-under 70, but has reached another level with his game posting rounds of 67-63 over the last two days. He hit every fairway in regulation and missed just one green on Saturday, paving the way for his bogey-free 9-under gem.

“Everything,” Lower said when asked what a win would mean to him. “I don’t know. Yeah, I mean, there’s 18 holes tomorrow on a very scorable golf course. I think the wind’s going to stay down again, so I have to go out and basically shoot probably somewhere between 5 and 9 under again. I mean, it’s just the way the scores are out here. If the wind’s down, scores are going to be low.

“Yeah, a win would mean everything. I still have a job to do.”

Is it Mav’s time?

Maverick McNealy has the game to be a four-, five-time winner on Tour, he’s just gotta get his first. McNealy, who withdrew from the Zozo Championship before the second round due to illness in his last start, has flirted with victory several times this year, including a T-3 finish at the 3M Open. However, he’s yet to get it over the finish line.

He’ll have a chance on Sunday thanks to rounds of 66-67 after opening the tournament with a 3-under 69 on Thursday.

The 28-year-old made the turn with a 1-under 35 on Day 3, and went on to add three birdies and a bogey on the back before finishing his third round with an eagle on the par-5 closer.

Maverick McNealy reads the break on 18 perfectly for EAGLE and a round of 66!

Golf Channel | @WWTChampionshippic.twitter.com/QOqH2JMEob

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) November 9, 2024

He’ll enter the final round two shots back of the lead.

Checking in with some familiar names

• Daniel Berger, 12 under (T-9)
• Wesley Bryan, 12 under (T-9)
• Joel Dahmen, 11 under (T-14)
• Matt Kuchar, 11 under (T-14)
• Harris English, 9 under (T-30)
• Harry Higgs, 7 under (T-38)

Top 10 and odds to win

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