Matt Millar will attempt to play distraction-free golf on Sunday to block out any pressure, nerves or excitement when a British Open spot goes on the line at Royal Pines.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Canberra golfer Millar jumped to outright third at the Australian PGA Championships on Saturday after blemish-free five-under par in intense heat on the Gold Coast.
But he has avoided doing order of merit calculations before the final round to ensure he focuses on maintaining the hot form that helped him jump up the leaderboard in spectacular fashion.
Millar can secure a spot at the British Open and three chances in the world golf championships if he pockets enough money to finish at the top of the order of merit after the tournament.
His chances of winning are slim given Cameron Smith is also in brilliant form, matching Millar's five-under third round to have a three-stroke lead and be seven shots ahead of Millar.
The real battle for Millar comes from those lurking behind, with current order of merit leader Jake McLeod in a tie for eighth. Millar is $84,000 behind McLeod on the moneylist.
So for Millar to rise above him and fend off other rivals, he needs to rise to outright second and hope that McLeod doesn't finish any higher than a tie for fourth.
"But I won't be thinking of that, I won't even do the numbers," a relaxed Millar said.
"I think if I get third outright, it will probably have me knocking on the door. But it's going to depend on how Jake McLeod and a few other boys play.
"I won't bother with the calculations, I just have to get out there and play well and do what works for me to give me every chance if I'm in that mode.
"Hopefully after I finish, I get some good news. I'll give it a go and we'll see what happens."
The winner will pocket $237,500 and Smith will have to have a meltdown to miss out on that cheque. Second gets $158,327, third finishes with $89,205 and the money goes down from there.
Millar is seven-under par for the tournament. As for catching Smith (-14) or second placed Leishman (-11)?
"Stranger things have happened," Millar laughed. "They're both exceptional. Cam is an incredible player and so is Leishman, I'd have to play really well and things would have to go wrong for them."
Millar fired five birdies and has been making a steady charge this week after being named the Australasian player of the year at an awards function earlier this week.
As one of the smaller hitters in the field, he has added a five-hybrid to his bag to give him extra length to give himself every chance to snatch the biggest win of his career.
"That decision about eight weeks ago [to add the five-hybrid] is paying off," he said. "This is what you play for - to be up there and in uncomfortable situations. I've been in it a few times, so I've got a lot to draw on."
