During a back-nine rally Saturday at Atlanta Athletic Club, David Toms couldn't help but flash back.
Especially when he arrived on the par-3 15th.
Ten years ago, he aced the 243-yard hole with a 5-wood. The next day, he held off Phil Mickelson to win his first and only major title.
On Saturday, Toms saw the plaque commemorating that iconic moment. As he strode to the tee, he listened to the crowd cheer, "Do it again!"
Alas, he did not. But a par on the 15th, a bold birdie on the 18th and a back-nine 30 on the Highlands Course has Toms in position to make a charge at another PGA title.
With a third-round 65, Toms is now at 2-under 208, three shots behind the leaders as they began their day.
"That was the goal of the day, to have a good round," Toms said. "I didn't know it was going to be a great round. ... If I can have one of those days (Sunday), I certainly will be in the mix."
Toms' sizzling back-nine run started on the par-5 12th, where he drained a long eagle putt. The tee was moved up on No. 13, now 372 yards, and Toms drove the green and two-putted for birdie. And then on 14, he holed a 40-yard bunker shot for birdie, setting up his theatrics on the finishing hole.
In 2001, Toms famously laid up, knocked a wedge shot close and made the par putt to edge Mickelson by one. On Saturday, Toms barely cleared the water with a 5-iron from 190 yards, but rolled in a 25-footer for an unlikely birdie on the toughest hole on the course. (It was his second birdie there in three days.)
What's his secret to playing 18?
"Maybe I concentrate well on the tee shot knowing that I have to hit a good one and just kind of suck it up and do it," he said. "It's a tough hole. And I'm not afraid to lay up."
Well, we know that. He's got the Wanamaker Trophy to prove it.
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