Coping with the Bear Trap has DeLaet in contention at the Honda Classic

PGA Tour Honda Classic leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/competition/2017/the-honda-classic/leaderboard.html

With round 3 well under way today at the Honda Classic down in swanky Palm Beach Gardens, Graham DeLaet finds himself right in contention again for his first PGA Tour win and his formula so far on this tough par 70 PGA National course featuring the vaunted Bear Trap finish has been very effective.

In rounds of 66 68 -6 he has made 8 birdies on the front nine and has only dropped 1 shot to par on the Bear Trap on the back.

The Bear Trap consists of the 15th par 3 180 yards all over water to a small green, then the 16th par 4 435yds with an uphill approach again all over water and sand, and finally the 17th another par 3 190 yards all over water from an elevated tee.

The holes aren't long but require precise shot making with little room for error, and of course with the title on the line they check out each and every contenders bottle.

This month DeLaet T9 at the Phoenix Open and with rounds of 67 69 65 he was right in the mix but his closing 71 just wasn't good enough, then last week at Riviera he T17 in tough weather, his final 3 rounds of 68 were only undone by an opening 73.

So he is in good form and it is only a matter of time before he breaks into the winners circle. He is off today at 1.30 EST with south Korean star CT Pan in the 3rd last group. The leaders right now are trick shot artist Wesley Bryan 64 67 -9 who won 3 times on the Web.com tour last year, and veteran Ryan Palmer 66 65 -9.

Playing at home, Rickie Fowler is next at 66 66 -8 and he always plays well here, runner up last year.

Other Canadians: David Hearn 69 71 is -2 through 11 holes and MacKenzie Hughes 69 71 started the morning at E, but is +3 today through 13.

Bryan Angus