Tim Wilkinson watches his tee shot sail down the fairway of the 16th hole Saturday during the third round of the Verizon Heritage. Today, Wilkinson will be in the lead group for just the second time in his career. JONATHAN DYER | The Island Packet
By SAM McDOWELL
smcdowell@islandpacket.com
843-706-8123
The ability to remain calm and collected on the golf course -- no matter the situation he's facing -- certainly played a big factor in Tim Wilkinson's 6-under 65 in the third round of the Verizon Heritage. He proved that much throughout Saturday afternoon in his charge up the leaderboard.
"I don't know what to say," Wilkinson remarked with a sheepish smile.
The line was difficult to hear, as Wilkinson hadn't yet realized the microphone sitting in front of him on the table.
The unfamiliarity is excusable. It's been awhile since Wilkinson has been in the spotlight -- nearly 14 months to be exact. But he'll be paired with leader Brian Gay (13 under), whom he trails by three shots, in today's last group. The two golfers tee off at 1:50 p.m. for the final round. It's the first time since last year's Sony Open in Hawaii in January that the left-handed Wilkinson has worked his way into the lead pairing.
He'll attempt to not only win his first event on the PGA Tour in 40 tries but also to become the first left-handed golfer to win at Harbour Town Golf Links in the history of the Heritage.
"I think the sheer numbers of right-handers versus left-handers has something to do with that," Wilkinson said. "And Phil (Mickelson) hasn't played here."
Well, actually Mickelson has made his way to Hilton Head Island seven times for the Heritage. But like all the lefties before him, he hasn't been standing at the top of the leaderboard after Sunday.
Wilkinson used a strong putting performance to creep that way. He finished with six birdies in Saturday's bogey-free round, including a string of four straight to end the front nine. He later added one on No. 16.
He has needed just 70 putts in the first three days, which gives him a chance to break the PGA Tour record for fewest putts used over four rounds. David Frost set the record at 92 in 2005 at Harbour Town.
Wilkinson said he benefited from recently switching to a new putter.
"I think that one will stay in the bag," he said.
A repeat performance of Saturday's round, which required only 22 putts, could give him a chance to catch Gay and become the first lefty to sport a tartan jacket.
"I hit a couple of bad iron shots today early on in the round, and I made some good up-and-downs for par," Wilkinson said. "If I could just really focus on committing to some of those shots, which is really hard sometimes (because) you feel the wind going around and around. So I think if I can do that a little better tomorrow, then I feel that will help."
Wilkinson added that he plans to draw back on his experience from the 2008 Sony Open -- though he's more concentrated on learning from what he observed of eventual winner K.J. Choi's demeanor than he is his own.
"He just stayed really composed the whole day," Wilkinson recalled.
Wilkinson will attempt to do the same today -- at least on the golf course, anyway.
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