HAVEN, Wis. -- Saturday at the PGA Championship was a scorer's paradise. If you shot 3 under or worse, you got justifiably lapped. Saturday on the back nine was where the pressure started to be felt by the guys up near the lead, but the best of the best finished strong. An easy course doesn't mean easy grades, however, and everyone inside the top 10 of the World Rankings made the cut, so all will be evaluated. Here are Saturday's grades.
Grade: C
World ranking: No. 1
Score: 71-71-68 (-6)
Given that he started 2 under and 9 shots off the lead, it would be easy to give McIlroy a pass here. But he made six birdies and an eagle in Round 3, which would have given him an outside chance of winning this thing. Instead, the four bogeys showed he is still rusty and his game still needs some work. One more day for improvement.
Grade: A+
World ranking: No. 2
Score: 71-67-65 (-13)
I had an argument with the host of a BBC radio station earlier today about who is the true world No. 1. Spieth had a bogey-free 65, which included shooting 30 on the back nine, and I wonder if the host will pick up the phone when I call him Sunday morning to gloat. Did I mention Spieth finished with three birdies in a row, two of them on the third- and fourth-hardest holes on the course? Winning three majors in the same year might not be too much for this 22-year-old to handle.
Grade: B-
World ranking: No. 3
Score: 72-71-70 (-3)
All a teacher ever wants to see from a student is improvement. Bubba has shown improvement in his scoring every day. He was consistent in hitting fairways and even better with the putter. I'd like to see Mr. Watson break 70 on Sunday.
Grade: B+
World ranking: No. 4
Score: 73-70-69 (-4)
A soft course of 7,492 yards isn't an ideal track for Furyk. But he proved, as usual, why he's ranked fourth in the world. He only averaged 277.7 yards off the tee, but he missed only two fairways and two greens. With a good round Sunday, he will have a legitimate chance at a top-25 finish.
Grade: A-
World ranking: No. 5
Score: 68-67-66 (-15)
It would have been easy to give him a lower grade here, but by making that birdie on the 17th hole and giving himself a chance for birdie on the 18th, Day earned the minus. It wasn't perfect by an means, but the stretch of holes nine through 14 were as close to perfection as I've seen. His biggest test comes tomorrow.
Grade: C+
World ranking: No. 6
Score: 69-67-68 (-12)
While I was happy he had seven birdies, a double-bogey left me wondering just how good the round could have been. The good news is Rose is not out of contention at 12 under. The bad news is the two guys ahead of him will not sit and wait.
Grade: D+
World ranking: No. 7
Score: 73-70-70 (-3)
How did Fowler have his best ball-striking day of this major and not break 70? Perfect conditions and perfect greens, yet 31 putts were the best Fowler could manage. I expect more from him because I know Fowler expects more from himself.
Grade: C+
World ranking: No. 8
Score: 66-73-68 (-9)
It would have been easy for Johnson to mail it in after a bogey on the third hole, but he fought to remain bogey-free for the rest of the round. But a 66 on a perfect day such as Saturday is like an even-par round for Johnson. That being said, I give him the plus for not quitting. Now, with a great round Sunday, he gives himself a chance to put on the board a number for the leaders to have to stare at.
Grade: C-
World ranking: No. 9
Score: 76-66-70 (-4)
Shooting 2 under on a perfect day in any tournament will get Stenson lapped by the field. I'd say it's a curious thing that Stenson could shoot 76-66-70, but that's golf. A guy looks like he has figured something out, then -- poof! -- it's gone before you can say putting green.
Grade: F+
World ranking: No. 10
Score: 72-71-75 (+2)
Six fairways and six greens in regulations meant Garcia wrote three double-bogeys on his scorecard. Whatever Garcia did Friday night, I hope he made note of it and never does it again. The plus is for making three birdies and an eagle with 24 putts, but that almost feels like putting lipstick on a pig.
Grade: A+
World ranking: 28
Score: 71-69-64 (-12)
Sometimes a teacher gets a paper to save to show students in later classes, "See, this is what I want you to aspire to!" I'm holding up Grace's scorecard as an example. He was perfect on fairways hit; he missed five greens but was saved by his putter. Even more impressive? This wasn't Grace's best putting round. That's a good thing because he now has a goal that should help him let go of this amazing round, which he'll have to do if he wants to win.
Grade: A
World ranking: 21
Score: 70-70-65 (-11)
The man who won this title the most recent time the tournament was played here must have felt some déjà vu Saturday. Only missing three greens while making more than 135 feet of putts, Kaymer looked a lot like the guy who won the Players and then dominated at Pinehurst No. 2. He shot a bogey-free 65, and he dropped a 31 on the back nine. That means Martin has an outside chance of winning here again.