John Catlin admitted that a second 59 of the season was on his mind at one stage after roaring back into contention with a sublime nine-under 61 on day three of International Series Thailand.
The International Series Rankings leader, who carded an historic 59 on his way to victory at International Series Macau presented by Wynn in March, was starting back in the pack after scraping into the weekend on the cutline thanks to a four-under 66 on Friday.
The 33-year-old birdied his opening hole of the day, the 10th, and burst into life with an eagle on 17 and three consecutive birdies on the turn. Further birdies on five, seven and nine moved him to T9, leaving him four behind leader Peter Uihlein.
Catlin, who has tasted success here already at the Thailand Open in 2019, said: “Yeah, it was just one of those days. I actually felt I played about the same yesterday (for a four-under 66) but l putted a lot better today. I even missed a couple and they shaved the edge, and for a moment I thought about a 59 again.
“It was a special day and it puts me in a position where I can maybe get after it again tomorrow.”
Catlin showed no hangover from his surprise playoff loss to Michael Maguire last weekend at the Black Mountain Championship in Hua Hin, the fifth elevated event of the season.
It was the second defeat in three playoffs this season, having also lost to Ben Campbell at International Series Morocco after beating David Puig for victory in Macau, one of two consecutive wins on the Asian Tour this year along with the Saudi Open presented by PIF.
Catlin, who was given a spot as an alternate on the LIV Golf League shortly after his back-to-back wins this season, showed no adverse effects from that surprise loss in Thailand last week, and it is business as usual as he goes about climbing the leaderboard and getting into contention on day four.
He said: “I did not change up anything, I kept doing what I was doing and a few things were going a bit better. I made a three on 17 and all sudden that kind of catapulted things. That is all you need sometimes.
“I will just keep doing what I am doing. It is in Peter’s hands right now and he is going to have to let me back in or I am going to do something really special. I am going to come out and play some good golf and see where it is headed.”
The International Series is the most prized pathway in golf. It consists of 10 elite tournaments sanctioned by the Asian Tour and offers the year-long Rankings leader promotion to the LIV Golf League
