US PGA Tour report and third-round scores
RUSSELL KNOX T10, SIX OFF LEAD
IN VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP
FROM ESPNSPORTS.COM
PALM HARBOR, Florida -- Ryan Moore had no trouble explaining how, after 12 consecutive pars to start the third round of the Valspar Championship, he birdied four of the final six holes Saturday.
"I just hit it closer," he said.
The result was a 4-under 67 that pushed Moore to a 54-hole total of 9-under 204 and a one-shot lead over Jordan Spieth on Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead course.
Spieth shot 68. Derek Ernst is another stroke back after a 69.
Russell Knox is the leading Brit in T10 position on 210 aftrer a third-round 70. Martin Laird is T53 on 215 after a 74.
The field was like a crowded freeway early before Moore finally opened up some space. When the final pairing of Brendon de Jonge and Spieth reached its fifth hole, they were part of an eight-way tie for the lead at 5 under. Another seven players were a shot back. Twenty-seven were within three.
While De Jonge, who led by one after 36 holes, shot 75 and fell off the pace, Moore, seeking his fifth career win, moved steadily along in the swirling wind until sprinting to the finish.
"Any day around this golf course with no bogeys is pretty good, especially the spots where I hit it," Moore said. "I was able to save par really low in the middle of my round, made some good putts but had some good chip shots. Was able to get it rolling there and make some birdies coming in."
The first birdie, coming on the 200-yard par-13th with a 6-iron to 8½ feet, was the springboard.
"It was not an easy par 3, especially with that wind," Moore said. "It was hard to figure out whether it was really helping or more across. Obviously, you don't want to get that wrong with water short, and with trouble long, you don't want to go long of that green.
"Stepped up and hit a great iron shot there, left myself nice 8-, 9-footer right below the hole, and knocking that in kind of got me going there on the backside."
Spieth was tied for the lead until Moore's birdie at 18. Spieth saved par at that hole with a one-putt from 6 feet.
"I got a lot of confidence at the end right there with my putter," Spieth said. "I had those 6-, 7- footers that, you know, when I'm close but not quite there, those are the ones that slide by the hole because I just kind of baby it a little bit and hit confident putts coming in. Hopefully, that does a lot of good for me tomorrow."
Nine players are within five shots, all aiming at Moore.
"Ryan has been obviously on his game for weeks now, and I've just been starting to trend up where I want to be," Spieth said. "We're both really right where we want to be this week.
"So with that being said, he's a great ball-striker. He hits it very straight and very disciplined and good putter. I expect him to shoot a few under tomorrow, and I'm going to have a really good round to win."
THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
par 213 (3x71)
Players from USA unless stated
204 Ryan Moore 69 68 67
205 Jordan Spieth 70 67 68
206 Derek Ernst 69 70 69
207 Sean O'Hair 66 72 69
SELECTED SCORES
208 Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 67 70 71 (T5)
210 Russell Knox (Scotland) 69 71 70 (T10)
211 Brian Davis (England) 65 76 70 (T14)
212 Lee Westwood (England) 71 70 71 (T23)
213 Ian Poulter (England) 68 70 75, Luke Donald (England) 72 68 73 (T34)
215 Martin Laird (Scotland) 69 72 74 (T53)
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE
IN VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP
FROM ESPNSPORTS.COM
PALM HARBOR, Florida -- Ryan Moore had no trouble explaining how, after 12 consecutive pars to start the third round of the Valspar Championship, he birdied four of the final six holes Saturday.
"I just hit it closer," he said.
The result was a 4-under 67 that pushed Moore to a 54-hole total of 9-under 204 and a one-shot lead over Jordan Spieth on Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead course.
Spieth shot 68. Derek Ernst is another stroke back after a 69.
Russell Knox is the leading Brit in T10 position on 210 aftrer a third-round 70. Martin Laird is T53 on 215 after a 74.
The field was like a crowded freeway early before Moore finally opened up some space. When the final pairing of Brendon de Jonge and Spieth reached its fifth hole, they were part of an eight-way tie for the lead at 5 under. Another seven players were a shot back. Twenty-seven were within three.
While De Jonge, who led by one after 36 holes, shot 75 and fell off the pace, Moore, seeking his fifth career win, moved steadily along in the swirling wind until sprinting to the finish.
"Any day around this golf course with no bogeys is pretty good, especially the spots where I hit it," Moore said. "I was able to save par really low in the middle of my round, made some good putts but had some good chip shots. Was able to get it rolling there and make some birdies coming in."
The first birdie, coming on the 200-yard par-13th with a 6-iron to 8½ feet, was the springboard.
"It was not an easy par 3, especially with that wind," Moore said. "It was hard to figure out whether it was really helping or more across. Obviously, you don't want to get that wrong with water short, and with trouble long, you don't want to go long of that green.
"Stepped up and hit a great iron shot there, left myself nice 8-, 9-footer right below the hole, and knocking that in kind of got me going there on the backside."
Spieth was tied for the lead until Moore's birdie at 18. Spieth saved par at that hole with a one-putt from 6 feet.
"I got a lot of confidence at the end right there with my putter," Spieth said. "I had those 6-, 7- footers that, you know, when I'm close but not quite there, those are the ones that slide by the hole because I just kind of baby it a little bit and hit confident putts coming in. Hopefully, that does a lot of good for me tomorrow."
Nine players are within five shots, all aiming at Moore.
"Ryan has been obviously on his game for weeks now, and I've just been starting to trend up where I want to be," Spieth said. "We're both really right where we want to be this week.
"So with that being said, he's a great ball-striker. He hits it very straight and very disciplined and good putter. I expect him to shoot a few under tomorrow, and I'm going to have a really good round to win."
THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
par 213 (3x71)
Players from USA unless stated
204 Ryan Moore 69 68 67
205 Jordan Spieth 70 67 68
206 Derek Ernst 69 70 69
207 Sean O'Hair 66 72 69
SELECTED SCORES
208 Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 67 70 71 (T5)
210 Russell Knox (Scotland) 69 71 70 (T10)
211 Brian Davis (England) 65 76 70 (T14)
212 Lee Westwood (England) 71 70 71 (T23)
213 Ian Poulter (England) 68 70 75, Luke Donald (England) 72 68 73 (T34)
215 Martin Laird (Scotland) 69 72 74 (T53)
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE
Labels: US PGA TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Sunday, March 15, 2015
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