Advertisement

Golf roundup: Jordan Spieth maintains one-shot lead going into final round of Travelers

Share

Jordan Spieth closed with a 20-foot birdie putt for a four-under-par 66 on Saturday in the Travelers Championship, giving him a one-stroke lead for the third consecutive round at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn.

The 23-year-old Texan had a 12-under 198 total.

Boo Weekley was second after a 65. The 43-year-old Weekley, playing just in front of Spieth, birdied five of the last eight holes.

Spieth bogeyed Nos. 13 and 14, but matched Weekley with three birdies on the final four holes, capping it with the final shot of the round from below the hole.

Advertisement

“It’s in the shadow,” Spieth said. “I’m looking to hit the putt at the right speed. If it goes in, great, if it doesn’t, so be it, tap it in. With a few feet to go it was going to have a chance and it curled right in the middle. That was a loud roar, and those are really fun to experience.”

Daniel Berger was three strokes back after a 66. C.T. Pan (66), David Lingmerth (65) and Paul Casey were at eight under.

Rory McIlroy switched putters and shot a 70 to remain at even par.

Weekley is looking for his fourth tour title and first since 2013. The colorful Floridian said he’s been dealing with personal issues, but declined to elaborate. His had a season-best tie for 37th at the Puerto Rico Open in March and has made just eight cuts in 21 events.

Spieth is looking for his 10th tour win and second this season after a victory in February at Pebble Beach.

Weekley acknowledged that makes for an odd final pairing Sunday.

“He loves to fish, so we’ve got a little in common there,” Weekley said. “So we can talk about that.”

Ryu shoots course record at LPGA event

Advertisement

So Yeon Ryu shot a course-record 10-under 61 on Saturday in the NW Arkansas Championship to take a five-stroke lead into the final round.

Ryu, the third-ranked South Korean star who won the ANA Inspiration in April for her second major title, reached 16 under to break the tournament 36-hole record by two strokes. She had her lowest score on the LPGA Tour and matched her professional best set in the 2012 Australian Ladies Masters.

Local favorite Stacy Lewis and Moriya Jutanugarn were tied for second. They each shot 65. First-round leader Sung Hyun Park followed her opening 63 with a 73 to drop into a tie for 10th at six under. Defending champion Lydia Ko was at five under after a 67.

Broadhurst retains Champions lead

Paul Broadhurst shot a three-under 69 at University Ridge to maintain a two-stroke lead in the PGA Tour Champions’ American Family Insurance Open.

Broadhurst followed birdies on the par-five 16th and par-three 17th with a bogey on the par-four 18th to finish at 12-under 132. The Englishman opened with a 63 on Friday. He won the Senior British Open and PURE Insurance Championship last year on the 50-and-over tour.

Advertisement

Lee Janzen and Scott Verplank were tied for second. They each shot 66.

Tournament host Steve Stricker had a 69 to join Fred Couples (68) and Gene Sauers (66) at nine under. Stricker is making his first start in his hometown event after turning 50 in February. He tied for 16th last week in the U.S. at Erin Hills.

Fellow Madison player Jerry Kelly was tied for 11th at six under after a 70. Defending champion Kirk Triplett shot a 73 to drop into a tie for 41st at two under. Nick Faldo, making his first Champions event start since 2015, was even par after a 73.

Garcia tied for BMW lead

Sergio Garcia carded a five-under 67 to join Richard Bland in a share of the lead after the third round of the BMW International Open in Munich, one stroke ahead of former joint leader Joakim Lagergren.

Garcia, playing his first event in Europe since his Masters win, and England’s Bland settled at 13 under overall going into Sunday’s final round on Munich’s Eichenried course.

Bland hit water on the 11th hole but recovered for his fourth birdie, and he followed up with an eagle on the 13th to move ahead.

Advertisement

Garcia stumbled with his second bogey on the 14th, but the Spaniard bounced back with birdies on the 15th and 17th holes, his sixth and seventh, to go level. Lagergren (69) had four birdies in a bogey-free round.

Advertisement