Joe

Durant

Durant got off to a rocky start, making bogey on his second and third holes. He turned it around, as he circled five birdies and an eagle over his final 15 holes. He landed 14 GIR and putted to a 1.571 average. He ends the week at 9-under 271.

Durant has long been known as a strong ball-striker, which has served him well in the windy conditions of the TPC Four Seasons. He circled eight birdies to three bogeys after splitting 10 (of 14) fairways and landing 13 GIR. The difference was the putter found the heat to match, as he took just 26 putts and notched a 1.615 average. He enters the final round at 4-under 206 and in a tie for eighth.

Durant started the week as the fifth alternate. He gained entry when Joe Ogilvie withdrew this morning. Durant went off the first tee at TPC Four Seasons Resort at 8:20 a.m. CT. The 47-year-old is 3-for-5 this year with no top 30s. He’s cashed in all three of his appearances on the Nationwide Tour but has logged just one top 25.

Making just his 11th start of the season due to Past Champion status, Durant has circled an eagle and 10 birdies this week. He hit five fewer greens in regulation (11) today but still managed six birdies to finish 5 points in arrears of the 36-hole clubhouse co-leaders.

Durant was the first from the late draw to sign for a 66 or lower. He’s the fifth overall to put up a 65. The renowned ball-striker split 13 (of 14) fairways and hit 15 greens en route to six birdies at Seaside. Four of his birdies found the cup from beyond 11 feet, the most notable disappearing from 33'7" at the 11th hole. He also poured in a par save from 23'7" at 7. He’s played out of the Past Champion category this year, which has limited him to 13 starts including this week. The four-time PGA TOUR champ sits 153rd on the money list. He gained entry into the McGladrey on a sponsor exemption.

Durant was the first alternate when the field was released on Friday afternoon, but he gained entry on a sponsor exemption. When Tommy Gainey withdrew, John Daly got in on merit, thus opening the exemption for Durant. The four-time PGA TOUR champ sits 149th on the money list, not bad considering he’s been limited to 11 starts due to Past Champion status. He’s 1-for-2 at CordeValle Golf Club with a T27 in 2010.

Durant started the week as the fourth alternate, but gained entry when Bob Estes withdrew. Durant’s only top 10 since 2011 was a T3 at last year’s HPBNC when he closed with a pair of 65s. He’s 1-for-3 this season on Past Champion status with a T37 in San Antonio.

Durant was the second alternate when the field was released on Friday afternoon. He gained entry due to several withdrawals today. While he’s 3-for-3 on the Web.com Tour this season, he’s yet to cash in two starts with the big boys this year. His lone payday in two starts at TPC San Antonio was a T41 in 2010.

Durant had been in a mini-slump going into last week’s Texas Open, but he made the cut after carding two good opening rounds. He has made the cut in three of his five starts at the Byron Nelson, with his best finish being a T-56 in 2002