Kang three in front at Houston Open
Australia. Tied at eight-under 208 HOUSTON: Rickie Fowler fourwere Cristie Kerr, Michelle Wie, putted the final green to hand Kang Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand and Sung-hoon a three-stroke lead after Karine Icher of France. the third round at the Houston
The 22-year-old Thompson has Open in Texas on Saturday. twice held the 54-hole lead in this Fowler overcame a seven-stroke event, going on to win in 2014, and is deficit to reel in South Korean Kang, looking for her second Major victory. only to stumble at the end with a
“Yeah, well, that experience bogey at the 17th and a doublealways helps me out, but I’m just bogey at the par-four 18th. going to focus on tomorrow, focus Those mistakes allowed Kang on one shot at a time, relax out there to use a 71 in a testing breeze at between shots and just focus on the Golf Club of Houston to finish doing my routine,” Thompson told the day on 17-under-par 199 with reporters. one round left as he targets a last
Pettersen is a 15-time winner minute berth at the US Masters. on the LPGA Tour but has never Fowler (67) was on 14-under, won a major. She has finished as the with fellow American Russell runner-up three times at the event Henley (69) another shot back. at the Mission Hills Country Club Kang needs to win on Sunday course. to qualify for next week’s Masters,
“I’m driving the ball well and the first Major of the year, and if he that’s a major key on this golf course,” does he might like to thank Fowler’s Pettersen said. “And if you do, you putter. LOS ANGELES: American Lexi then returned to make six birdies can kind of attack it as well. So far, “I’ll just stick to my game plan,” Thompson built on her success at the and one bogey in her third round to so good. I’ve got a big job to do Kang told PGATour.com, aware ANA Inspiration with a third-round reach 13-under. tomorrow. of the Sunday forecast for strong five-under-par 67 on Saturday to Norwegian Suzann Pettersen shot “I mean, the leaderboard is storms that could make for a long grab a two-shot day.leadheadingintotheathird-round68andwastwobackpackedbehindmeaswell.You’vegot final round. at 11-under. to expect to go out there and shoot “It was very hard work (today).
Thompson completed the final 10 At 10-under 206 were South low. There’s a lot at stake, but I’m all Greens got firmer, faster. I tried to holes of her delayed second round Koreans Hur Mi-jung, Park In-bee in for it.” really grind it out today and I did early in the day, carding a 67, and and Ryu So-yeon and Minjee Lee of pretty good.”
Kang heard the cheering and clapping from the preceding group following the popular Fowler, who delighted his overflowing gallery by picking up eight birdies in the first 14 holes, including a monster 50-footer putt at the seventh hole.
His first dropped shot did not come until the par-four 17th, where he missed a five-footer, a minor hiccup compared to the final green, where his first putt from 55 feet stopped more than four feet short of the hole.
Fowler had a look of disbelief when he missed the second putt, and his expression turned ashen after his next miss from inside four feet.
“Can’t really dwell on the last two holes,” Fowler said. “I was trying to avoid a spike mark on 17 and my second putt for par on 18 was supposed to go right and it moved left on me.”
“It’s unfortunate but we’ve put ourself in position to win so ... can’t really dwell on the last two holes.”
Kang had no such problems on the final green, sinking a testing four-footer to put himself in prime position to earn his first PGA Tour victory at the age of 29.