RUSSELL KNOX TIED 25th AFTER THIRD-ROUND 66 AT FORT WORTH
FOUR SHARE LEAD WITH A ROUND TO
GO AT CROWNE PLAZA INVITATIONAL
FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
FORT WORTH, Texas -- David Toms, Chad Campbell, Chris Stroud and Hideki Matsuyama emerged as co-leaders after 54 holes at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas on Saturday.
Those four share a one-shot lead at 7 under on a bunched-up leaderboard going into Sunday's final round.
Toms, the 2011 champ, shot a 5-under 65, while Matsuyama -- the 22-year-old star from Japan -- had a 64, his lowest score on the US PGA Tour.
Campbell, a native of Texas, shot a 68. Stroud buried a 15-footer for birdie on the last to card a 69.
They will have plenty of chasers. Forty-nine players are within five shots of the lead, including FedExCup points leader Jimmy Walker (tied for fifth at 6 under) and world No. 1 Adam Scott (tied for 11th at 5 under).
Kevin Chappell shot a 7-under 63, the low round of the week, to move from a tie for 60th after 36 holes to a tie for fifth going into Sunday.
GO AT CROWNE PLAZA INVITATIONAL
FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
FORT WORTH, Texas -- David Toms, Chad Campbell, Chris Stroud and Hideki Matsuyama emerged as co-leaders after 54 holes at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas on Saturday.
Those four share a one-shot lead at 7 under on a bunched-up leaderboard going into Sunday's final round.
Toms, the 2011 champ, shot a 5-under 65, while Matsuyama -- the 22-year-old star from Japan -- had a 64, his lowest score on the US PGA Tour.
Campbell, a native of Texas, shot a 68. Stroud buried a 15-footer for birdie on the last to card a 69.
They will have plenty of chasers. Forty-nine players are within five shots of the lead, including FedExCup points leader Jimmy Walker (tied for fifth at 6 under) and world No. 1 Adam Scott (tied for 11th at 5 under).
Kevin Chappell shot a 7-under 63, the low round of the week, to move from a tie for 60th after 36 holes to a tie for fifth going into Sunday.
David Toms’ wife Sonya was driving from their
home in Shreveport, Louisiana to Fort Worth, Texas on Friday to
celebrate their 22nd wedding anniversary.
The last thing Toms wanted was to miss the cut at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial and then have to head right back home.
So he shot a bogey-free back nine in the second round to secure his spot above the cut line with a 66. On Saturday, he went one better, shooting a 5-under 65 to leave him at 7 under for the tournament and with a chance to win at Colonial for the second time in four years. He ended his round with a share of the lead.
“I needed a good round to get into contention,” said the 47-year-old Toms, who won in 2011 after many years of coming close at Colonial. “That’s what I’ve done, so I look forward to tomorrow.”
Toms opened Saturday’s round with birdies on his first two holes. He gave one back at the third hole, but after that, he was bogey-free for the rest of his day. Starting at the ninth hole, he made three straight birdies, and then added another at the 15th.
Toms was paired with Brendon Todd (67), who won last week’s HP Byron Nelson Championship. Last year in the final round at the Wyndham Championship, the two were also paired – Toms shot 62 that day to Todd’s 64.
“It seems like every time we’re paired together, we both look pretty solid,” Toms said. “I know he was coming off a pretty good high last week.
“It was just a good, positive day.”
The last thing Toms wanted was to miss the cut at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial and then have to head right back home.
So he shot a bogey-free back nine in the second round to secure his spot above the cut line with a 66. On Saturday, he went one better, shooting a 5-under 65 to leave him at 7 under for the tournament and with a chance to win at Colonial for the second time in four years. He ended his round with a share of the lead.
“I needed a good round to get into contention,” said the 47-year-old Toms, who won in 2011 after many years of coming close at Colonial. “That’s what I’ve done, so I look forward to tomorrow.”
Toms opened Saturday’s round with birdies on his first two holes. He gave one back at the third hole, but after that, he was bogey-free for the rest of his day. Starting at the ninth hole, he made three straight birdies, and then added another at the 15th.
Toms was paired with Brendon Todd (67), who won last week’s HP Byron Nelson Championship. Last year in the final round at the Wyndham Championship, the two were also paired – Toms shot 62 that day to Todd’s 64.
“It seems like every time we’re paired together, we both look pretty solid,” Toms said. “I know he was coming off a pretty good high last week.
“It was just a good, positive day.”
But the 22-year-old star from Japan is certainly in contention now
after shooting a 6-under 64 in Saturday’s third round of the Crowne
Plaza Invitational at Colonial.
Matsuyama is at 7 under through three rounds and will have a late tee time on Sunday as he chases his first win in his first season as a PGA TOUR member.
“I’m going to probably be nervous tomorrow,” Matsuyama said through his interpreter.
Matsuyama tied for third in the season-opening Frys.com Open last fall. A few weeks later, he won for the fourth time in 2013 on the Japan Golf Tour.
In early February, he tied for fourth at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
In his last five TOUR starts, though, he’s missed two cuts, had to withdraw from The Honda Classic with a wrist injury, and finished outside the top 30 in the other two starts.
But making his first trip to Colonial, he’s found his game this week.
“Gradually, week by week my game has gotten better,” Matsuyama said. “I feel like I can compete now – especially to shoot 6-under today and be in contention.
“I’m going to have to shoot lower than that tomorrow, but I’m going to do my best.”
Matsuyama is at 7 under through three rounds and will have a late tee time on Sunday as he chases his first win in his first season as a PGA TOUR member.
“I’m going to probably be nervous tomorrow,” Matsuyama said through his interpreter.
Matsuyama tied for third in the season-opening Frys.com Open last fall. A few weeks later, he won for the fourth time in 2013 on the Japan Golf Tour.
In early February, he tied for fourth at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
In his last five TOUR starts, though, he’s missed two cuts, had to withdraw from The Honda Classic with a wrist injury, and finished outside the top 30 in the other two starts.
But making his first trip to Colonial, he’s found his game this week.
“Gradually, week by week my game has gotten better,” Matsuyama said. “I feel like I can compete now – especially to shoot 6-under today and be in contention.
“I’m going to have to shoot lower than that tomorrow, but I’m going to do my best.”
But Scott made a big move Saturday in the third round of the Crowne
Plaza Invitational at Colonial to bolster his chances of staying at No. 1
The Australian posted a bogey-free 4-under 66 to move to 5 under for the tournament. He was two shots off the lead when he walked off the course Saturday and will at least have a fighting chance in Sunday’s final round.
Depending on how Scott finishes versus how Henrik Stenson finishes at the BMW PGA Championship on the European Tour, Stenson could move ahead of Scott in the rankings.
Stenson is currently tied for seventh after three rounds, while Scott should be near top 10 at Colonial by the end of the day.
“I can only worry about my golf here,” Scott said when asked about the possibility of Stenson passing him. “Worrying about that isn’t going to help me at all.
“It’s all very tight. We know that. I’m happy to have gotten to No. 1. I hope it’s not such a short stay.”
Scott started his week at No. 1 with a shaky first nine holes Thursday, shooting 4 over. But in his last 45 holes at Colonial starting with his second nine in the first round, Scott has 10 birdies against just one bogey. He’s obviously found his rhythm at a tournament he’s played just two previous times.
"I might have been forcing it a bit hard the last few weeks to play too perfect," Scott said. "That's not how you play golf. Today was nice. It was a good, solid round."
After shooting a bogey-free 4 under on his front nine Saturday, Scott was looking to move even higher up the leaderboard. But he failed to get up-and-down from the greenside bunker at the par-5 11th and that derailed his momentum.
"It's exactly how I wanted to come out today," Scott said. "The swing was in a good spot right from the get-go. That's what I've been trying to do, just free it up this week and swing and hit my shot, and I did. Everything went according to play on the front.
"Unfortunately, just couldn't keep it going for the 18."
THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 210 (3x70). Players from USA unless stated
203 Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) 69 70 64, David Toms 72 66 65, Chad Campbell 69 66 68, Chris Stroud 70 64 69.
204 Kevin Chappell 68 73 63, Chris Kirk 73 64 67, Marc Leishman (Australia) 69 68 67, Brian Harman 69 67 68, Tim Clark (S Africa) 67 68 69, Jimmy Walker 67 68 69
SELECTED SCORES
205 Brian Davis (England) 68 67 70, Adam Scott (Australia) 71 68 66 (T11).
207 Russell Knox (Scotland) 71 70 66 (T25)
208 Martin Laird (Scotland) 70 69 69 (T39)
The Australian posted a bogey-free 4-under 66 to move to 5 under for the tournament. He was two shots off the lead when he walked off the course Saturday and will at least have a fighting chance in Sunday’s final round.
Depending on how Scott finishes versus how Henrik Stenson finishes at the BMW PGA Championship on the European Tour, Stenson could move ahead of Scott in the rankings.
Stenson is currently tied for seventh after three rounds, while Scott should be near top 10 at Colonial by the end of the day.
“I can only worry about my golf here,” Scott said when asked about the possibility of Stenson passing him. “Worrying about that isn’t going to help me at all.
“It’s all very tight. We know that. I’m happy to have gotten to No. 1. I hope it’s not such a short stay.”
Scott started his week at No. 1 with a shaky first nine holes Thursday, shooting 4 over. But in his last 45 holes at Colonial starting with his second nine in the first round, Scott has 10 birdies against just one bogey. He’s obviously found his rhythm at a tournament he’s played just two previous times.
"I might have been forcing it a bit hard the last few weeks to play too perfect," Scott said. "That's not how you play golf. Today was nice. It was a good, solid round."
After shooting a bogey-free 4 under on his front nine Saturday, Scott was looking to move even higher up the leaderboard. But he failed to get up-and-down from the greenside bunker at the par-5 11th and that derailed his momentum.
"It's exactly how I wanted to come out today," Scott said. "The swing was in a good spot right from the get-go. That's what I've been trying to do, just free it up this week and swing and hit my shot, and I did. Everything went according to play on the front.
"Unfortunately, just couldn't keep it going for the 18."
THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 210 (3x70). Players from USA unless stated
203 Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) 69 70 64, David Toms 72 66 65, Chad Campbell 69 66 68, Chris Stroud 70 64 69.
204 Kevin Chappell 68 73 63, Chris Kirk 73 64 67, Marc Leishman (Australia) 69 68 67, Brian Harman 69 67 68, Tim Clark (S Africa) 67 68 69, Jimmy Walker 67 68 69
SELECTED SCORES
205 Brian Davis (England) 68 67 70, Adam Scott (Australia) 71 68 66 (T11).
207 Russell Knox (Scotland) 71 70 66 (T25)
208 Martin Laird (Scotland) 70 69 69 (T39)
Labels: US PGA TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Sunday, May 25, 2014
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