Saturday, 1 December 2018:
 | | HAROLD VARNER III of the United States plays during the Mayakoba Golf Classic at El Camaleon Mayakoba Golf Course in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. | |
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Win or lose, Harold Varner III knows where he's heading once his final Australian PGA Championship round is done on Sunday.
The American fan favourite has resisted the urge to join punters at the party hole par three on the 16th so far, with a birdie there on Saturday that followed a double bogey only adding to the temptation.
That birdie capped a rollercoaster round of 71, with Varner seven under and tied for third, seven shots back from leader Cameron Smith.
He mixed five birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey across a 10-hole stretch either side of the turn but considers himself a shot after taking the scenic Saturday route.
"100 per cent, 100 per cent. I just need to give myself 18 looks and I think something good will happen," he said.
A winner at Royal Pines in 2016 and runner-up the year before, Varner has never finished worse than sixth at his home away from home.
Mobbed by fans young and old after his round, Varner signed every autograph before chatting to media about that 16th hole.
"It would be awesome if I could have a beer or some type of alcohol during a tournament," he said.
"Those guys are having so much fun. It was super cool after I doubled to still do that. Man, it makes it easy to come back."
In a sign the times are changing, Jason Norris took a fully clothed dip during a forgettable round of 81 in a move that delighted patrons but raised the eyebrows of others.
Varner sees the benefits of initiatives such as a party hole and wants to see more of it on tour.
"No he didn't," Varner said when told of Norris's quick dip.
"I like that environment. I think that's a cool environment. I think that's how you grow the game.
"I don't think you could do it every week but I think you should definitely have that more often.
"I mean, I don't know how many people out there play golf but if I wasn't playing golf I would go out there."
