Sunday, January 25, 2015

MARTIN LAIRD SHARING NINTH PLACE

Martin Laird is in the top 10 as the US PGA Tour's Humana Challenge goes into Sunday's fourth round at La Quinta, California.
The Scot (pictured below) has had scores of 68, 66 and 68 for a 54-hole tally of 202 and joint ninth place - three shots behind the quartet sharing the lead, Americans Erik Compton, Bill Haas, Justin Thomas and Michael Putnam.

Russell Knox missed the cut by three shots with rounds of 69,70 and 72 for 211.
Englishman Brian Davis is T24 on 204.
Brits who are now on the sidelines alongside Knox include, Paul Casey (209), Luke Donald (214) and Greg Owen (225).

THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Three different courses used. Par 216 (3x72)
Players from USA unless stated
199 Erik Compton 66 66 67, Bill Haas 67 63 69, Justin Thomas 68 63 68, Michael Putnam 63 67 69.
SELECTED SCORES
200 Matt Kuchar 65 64 71 (T5)
202 Martin Laird (Scotland) 68 66 68 (T9)
204 Brian Davis (England) 67  69 68 (T24)

MISSED THE CUT (208 and better qualified)
209 Paul Casey (England) 70 69 70
211 Russell Knox (Scotland) 69 70 72
214 Luke Donald (England) 75 69 70
225 Greg Owen (England) 74 74 77 

To view all the scores

CLICK HERE 

CBS SPORTS.COM SUMMARY
 
KUCHAR'S LATE BOGEYS LEAVE DOOR OPEN
 
LA QUINTA, Calif. -- Matt Kuchar stumbled late in the third round of the Humana Challenge, handing the lead to Erik Compton, Bill Haas, Justin Thomas and Michael Putnam.
Two strokes ahead after a birdie on the par-5 14th, Kuchar bogeyed three of the final four holes Saturday for a 1-under 71 on PGA West's Arnold Palmer Private Course.
"It's too bad, but it's what happened," Kuchar said. "I still got one more day left to try to make some birdies and still pull this thing out."
Two-time heart transplant recipient Compton shot a 67 on the Jack Nicklaus Private Course to join Haas, Thomas and Putnam at 17-under 199. Haas, the 2010 winner, had a 69 on the Nicklaus layout. Thomas shot 68 on the Palmer course, and Putnam had a 69 at La Quinta Country Club.
Kuchar was a stroke back along with Ryan Palmer, Scott Pinckney and Steve Wheatcroft.
The highest-ranked player in the field at No. 11, Kuchar lost a shot on the par-3 15th when he drove to the right, sent his second to the back edge and missed a 14-footer.
"Just nearly an impossible up-and-down if you miss the green right," Kuchar said.
Kuchar bogeyed the par-3 17th after his tee shot went right, bounced sideways off the rocks at the foot of the Santa Rosa Mountains and raced across the green into the All-American Canal.
"With a pitching wedge, you're looking to hit a good shot," Kuchar said. "Unfortunately, I let it hang too much and it caught a rock and went in the water."
The seven-time tour winner closed with another rocky bogey, ending his birdie-eagle string on the par 5s. On the first 12 pars 5 of the week, he had an eagle and 11 birdies.
On 18, his 235-yard approach sailed long and left into the rocks and water. After his ball rolled away on a penalty drop, he placed it deep in the dormant grass, blasted out to 8 feet and two-putted.
"I hit a great drive and was in between a 3- and 4-hybrid," Kuchar said. "I went with a 3-hybrid, trying to get it back to the hole and hit a solid shot that just didn't fade."
Compton birdied three of his last five holes in breezy, warm conditions.
"I had a couple shots that were loose on the drives, but I salvaged the round," Compton said. "Tomorrow's a new day."
On the final day of the pro-am competition, Compton played in a group with amputee Chad Pfeifer and Baltimore Orioles pitcher Bud Norris. Pfeifer lost his left leg in Iraq.
"On the third hole, he said, `Hey, listen, you know, you really inspired me learning about your story,'" Compton said. "And I'm kind of speechless, because I see him with a huge adversity that he's gone through and it speaks volumes."
Haas is making his first start since November. He took the long break to rest his left wrist, injured when he fell down stairs at Hilton Head.
"So far, something to build on, but I also know in the back of my head I don't think I'm a hundred percent," Haas said. "So, I'll go on the range and work on it. I just got to stay in the moment and try not to hit too many foul balls tomorrow."
Thomas birdied two of the last three holes. The 21-year-old former Alabama player hit a 91-yard shot to a foot for birdie on the par- 4 16th and two-putted for birdie on the 18.
"I'm pleased where I'm at going into tomorrow," Thomas said.
Palmer followed his 61 on Friday on the Nicklaus course with a 68 on the Palmer layout. Wheatcroft had a 68 on the Nicklaus course, and Pinckney shot 69 in the Palmer.
Defending champion Patrick Reed, paired with Kuchar, was tied for ninth at 14 under after a 67. He's coming off a playoff victory two weeks ago in Hawaii in the Tournament of Champions.
Phil Mickelson was 11 under in his first start since the Ryder Cup in September. He had eight birdies and four bogeys in a 68 on the Palmer course.
"It was a day that could have been really low," Mickelson said. "It had a lot of potential and I ended up making too many bogeys and letting some birdie opportunities slide."
The 44-year-old Mickelson won the event in 2002 and 2004.

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