Jim

Renner

The rookie has had just two top 50s this year but both were top fives (Viking, Reno-Tahoe). As a result, he’s 159th on the money list. What’s more is that today’s 62 isn’t even a personal best; he shot the same number in his third round at Annandale in July. Today he split 11 (of 14) fairways, hit 13 greens and took only 23 putts. Four of his birdies today measured longer than 10 feet, including a 35'8" conversion at the 11th hole. Renner is an aggregate 8-under 205, two strokes adrift of the 54-hole clubhouse co-leaders.

Limiting mistakes has been the story of Renner’s week. In 36 holes he has just one bogey to nine birdies. A veteran of 28 Web.com Tour events, he’s never won but does have three top-10 finishes.

Renner’s round wasn’t flawless, squaring two bogeys without a birdie for his first seven holes. He rebounded with his first of two eagles on the par-5 eighth, following that up with a birdie on the ninth and a second eagle on the par-5 10th. He added back-to-back birdies on 13 and 14 and parred in to finish his round. He will be paired with Patrick Cantlay in the final round, with each looking to nab their first Web.com Tour title.

Renner took on Spyglass Hill Golf Course on Saturday, squaring three bogeys without a birdie over his first 10 holes. Fortunately for him, he woke up and birdied the 12th, 14th and 15th holes before parring in. After missing each of his first four cuts to start the year, his final 18 holes could be huge for setting the table for the rest of his season. He will be subject to the next reshuffle in two weeks, barring a win before then, so the higher he finishes the better on many fronts.

Consider this update a loose end tied off. When it was clear that he wasn’t going to survive the cut at the Northern Trust Open two weeks ago, he opted not to complete his second round after darkness suspended play on Friday night. Back in play today, he split just six (of 14) fairways and hit only nine greens in regulation en route to four bogeys. He picked off a pair of birdies, including a six-yarder from just off the putting surface at the par-5 third, but Renner also fanned on four attempts inside nine feet. As you were.

Renner entered the week having missed all four of his cuts on the season and scoring no lower than 69 twice. With lift, clean and place in effect today, he took advantage, splitting 10 (of 13) fairways and hitting 14 greens in regulation. He converted three birdies on each nine to finish two strokes off the clubhouse lead. Pebble Beach is up next in his rotation.

He split 11 (of 14) fairways but hit only 10 greens in regulation and outbalanced three birdies with four bogeys (going 4-for-8 in scrambling). His only notable par breaker was a 14-yard hole-out from the rough left of the green at the par-4 fourth hole. Spyglass Hill awaits for Saturday’s third round. He’ll arrive sitting at 5-under 138, four strokes in arrears of the 36-hole clubhouse lead in relation to par.

Given that he was 6-over-par through 16 holes and 5-over for the tournament with virtually no chance of making the cut, you can understand why he didn’t play on. Renner would have need to eagle the par-4 eighth and par-4 ninth holes. While WDs during a suspension when a missed cut is imminent are not uncommon, we’ll add him to our Injury Report as a precaution. Gamers unaware of the circumstance in real time will wonder if the withdrawal is related to something other than what actually happened.

What a week for Renner, as he entered the week without having made a cut in four starts this season. He traded two birdies and two bogeys on his opening nine, but caught fire on Pebble Beach Golf Links’ back nine with five birdies and four pars. His previous best PGA TOUR finish was a T4 at the 2011 Viking Classic. He was not previously in the field for the Northern Trust Open later this week, but will have the option of teeing it up at Riviera Country Club with this top 10.

He opened the door for the berth with a T2 at Pebble Beach on Sunday. The top-10 exemption elevates his status for the week. Without the top-10 exemption, he’d have been outside the top 30 alternates. This will mark his debut at Riviera Country Club.