Sports

Watson grabs one-shot lead

February 18, 2018
Bubba Watson reacts after making birdie on the 15th green during the third round of the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California, Saturday. — AFP
Bubba Watson reacts after making birdie on the 15th green during the third round of the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California, Saturday. — AFP

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA — Bubba Watson swooped for an eagle and five birdies in a six-under par 65 at Riviera Country Club Saturday to seize a one-shot lead going into the final round of the Genesis Open.

Two-time Masters champion Watson is also a two-time winner at Riviera, claiming the most recent of his nine US PGA Tour titles here in 2016.

His 10-under-par total of 203 put him one stroke in front of Southern California native Patrick Cantlay, who rolled in a 55-foot birdie putt at the 18th to cap a 69 for 204.

Watson, energized perhaps by his appearance in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday night, produced his signature moment right out of the gate.

His second shot at the par-five first rolled within 18 inches of the pin to give him a tap-in eagle.

With his monster birdie at 18 Cantlay separated himself from a chasing pack.

Australian Cameron Smith, Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell and Americans Kevin Na and Tony Finau shared third on 205.

McDowell, who shared the overnight lead with Cantlay, carded a one-under par 70. Na posted a 67, Finau a 68 and Smith climbed up the leaderboard with a bogey-free six-under par 65.

Cantlay, a former top-ranked amateur, will be seeking his second US PGA Tour title, after winning in Las Vegas in November.

He and Watson, who has slipped to 117th in the world after a forgettable 2017 season, will play in the last group Sunday with Smith, whose pro wins include last year’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans and the Australian PGA Championship in December.

Fifteen players are within five shots of the lead, including world No. 1 and defending champion Dustin Johnson.

Durant shoots 63

Joe Durant birdied five of the last eight holes for a 9-under 63 to match Steve Stricker’s Saturday finish and take the second-round lead in the PGA Tour Champions’ Chubb Classic.

Durant rebounded from a three-putt bogey on the par-4 10th with birdies on the next two holes and also birdied Nos. 15-17. He had a 14-under 130 total on TwinEagles’ Talon course for a one-stroke lead over Stricker.

Playing alongside John Daly, Stricker birdied three of the last four on the front nine and birdied the last two for a back-nine 31.

First-round leader Miguel Angel Jimenez was two strokes back. He birdied three of the last four in a 68 after opening with a 64.

Lee Janzen (67) was 11 under, and Kevin Sutherland (68) and Scott McCarron (68) were another stroke back. Daly was 8 under after his second 68. Three-time champion Bernhard Langer had a 70 to get to 5-under. — Agencies


February 18, 2018
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