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Aussie hopes evaporate at PGA Championship

Lucas Herbert is eyeing his best finish at a major after powering into the top 10 at the US PGA Championship in Oklahoma.

LUCAS HERBERT.
LUCAS HERBERT. Picture: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Australia's hopes of landing the Wanamaker Trophy have perished during the third round of the US PGA Championship in Oklahoma.

Cameron Smith's challenged ended as Lucas Herbert emerged as the leading Australian at Southern Hills Country Club.

Herbert is eyeing his first top-10 finish at one of golf's four majors after a fighting two-under par 68 on Saturday thrust the 26-year-old back into red figures at one under for the tournament.

Herbert is tied for 10th, trailing Chilean leader Mito Pereira by eight shots entering the final round.

The Bendigo talent was chuffed after being one of the few players to shoot under par on another demanding day.

"Felt like I played pretty solid out there today," Herbert said.

"Just didn't hit a lot of horrible golf shots and then felt like I was just a little sharp around the greens chipping and putting. It was a pretty solid day. I'm not too unhappy with all that.

"There's definitely opportunities out there to score.

"It's one of those golf courses you don't have to miss by much and all of a sudden you're struggling to make bogey pretty quick.

"But if you do hit the right shots, I think there is a score out there."

Smith started moving day in a tie for 10th, seven strokes off the pace, but three bogeys in his first seven holes cruelled his chances of snaring an elusive maiden major.

The world No.4 eventually signed for a 73 to fall to one over and into a share of 23rd spot.

Former champion Jason Day posted his second straight 72 to be five over and 13 shots back.

Marc Leishman (73) and Cam Davis (72) are one stroke further behind.

Pereira dropped three shots in three holes mid-round to open the door for chasers but rallied late to end the day at nine under following a 69.

The Chilean enjoys a three-shot buffer over Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick (67) and American third-round leader Will Zalatoris (73).

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