Brooks Koepka leads Jordan Spieth by two at Byron Nelson

Brooks Koepka overcame two early bogeys and the shadow of being in the same group with Jordan Spieth at home, shooting a five-under-par 65 on Saturday to take the lead into the final round of the Byron Nelson at Irving, Texas.

Kopeka was at 16-under 194 to match the best 54-hole score at the Nelson and put him two strokes ahead of Spieth.

Koepka took the lead with a 20-foot birdie putt at No. 14. That was the same hole where Spieth hit his drive into the water, had to punch into the fairway and then drained a 23-foot bogey putt in his round of 67.

Spieth played his first PGA Tour event at the Nelson as a 16-year-old amateur six years ago. He is now the world’s No. 2-ranked player and the crowd favorite. His image is everywhere, including the 8,000 bobbleheads given away Saturday.

“Doesn’t really bother me,” Koepka said of Spieth’s support. “I mean, he’s got a lot of support which is cool to see. He has grown up here. He should.

“It wasn’t good today. It was kind of embarrassing,” Koepka added. “We both kind of hung in there, battled it out and we made some good, good key 10-footers.”

Matt Kuchar, Bud Cauley and Sergio Garcia were tied for third at 13 under.

McIlroy in contention at Irish Open

Rory McIlroy could be on the cusp of his first Irish Open victory if the heavens permit him to finish.

Lightning storms bedeviled the third round at the K Club, and play was suspended with McIlroy, at nine under, ready to tee off the 16th hole holding a three-stroke lead over Masters champion Danny Willett.

McIlroy has never won the Irish Open and failed for the past three years to make the cut.

Langer leads Champions event

Bernhard Langer avoided the troubles of several other Regions Tradition contenders on a day when swirling wind became a factor as he took a four-shot lead at Birmingham, Ala.

A stroke behind leader Kenny Perry entering play, Langer shot a three-under 69 to move to 12-under 204 in the first PGA Tour Champions major of the year — while Perry and others stumbled.

Jutanugarn atop LPGA leaderboard

Ariya Jutanugarn moved into position for her second straight LPGA Tour victory, shooting a bogey-free six-under 65 to take the third-round lead in the rain-soaked Kingsmill Championship at Williamsburg, Va.

Second-round leader So Yeon Ryu bogeyed the final hole for a 69 to drop a stroke back along with fellow South Korean player In Gee Chun and Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum.