Defending Chevron Championship winner Patty Tavatanakit’s third-round 70 – her “worst” round here since a Sunday 76 in 2020 – was the same up-and-down affair as her first two days on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course. After six birdies and four bogeys on Saturday, she will head to Sunday’s final round six strokes behind Jennifer Kupcho.
“Solid. Again, it's been a really solid week,” Tavatanakit said of her round. “A lot of positives to take into tomorrow.”
With a win, Tavatanakit would become the seventh multiple winner of The Chevron Championship and just the second person to successfully defend her title, joining Annika Sorenstam in 2001 and 2002. She would also join Se Ri Pak and In Gee Chun as the only players in LPGA Tour history to win majors as their first two LPGA Tour titles.
Making up a six-stroke deficit isn’t easy, but not impossible. In 2006, Karrie Webb trailed by seven at Mission Hills after 54 holes before holing out for eagle on the 72nd hole to force a playoff with Lorena Ochoa. Webb birdied the first hole of sudden death to clinch the greatest come-from-behind win in championship history.
In 2021, Tavatanakit led by five heading into the final round. In 2022, she’ll chase Kupcho’s six-stroke advantage. So which scenario excites her more? She’s ready for the challenge and up for the chase.
“I like chasing. Yeah, for sure. Better feeling. You play without fear and I love doing that.”
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