Defending champ Goydos opens lead in PGA Tour
PHOENIX — Defending champion Paul Goydos took a one-stroke lead Saturday in the PGA Tour Champions' seasonending Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
Goydos shot a 5-under 66 to reach 12-under 130 at Phoenix Country Club, the tree-lined course hosting its first tour event since the Phoenix Open left for TPC Scottsdale in 1988.
"This golf course doesn't hide where it wants you to hit the ball," Goydos said. "You kind of follow the line of the trees and you'll be OK. I mean, you need to drive it good."
Lee Janzen was second after a 67. The two-time U.S. Open champion birdied the par-5 18th playing alongside Goydos in the final group.
"Even on good shots today sometimes it was a challenge," Janzen said. "I expect a challenge. I think even if I was in complete control of my golf game in all regards I should expect a challenge because that's just the way golf is. But right now, I'm expecting a little bit more of a challenge because I'm not super confident with how I'm swinging.
"I hit some wild shots, but I just keep hoping I have a swing and some sort of opening and I'll figure out a way to get it near the green and make a par."
Goydos made a 7-footer for birdie on the par-4 16th, then missed a 6-foot try on 18.
"I get in there, I want to hit a fast one, I looked at the hole and all I saw was the sun," Goydos said. "I should have backed away and I didn't . ... You talk about the difference between a Langer or a Watson or a Woods or a Spieth and a Goydos is that I was too quick there. I should have stopped."
Bernhard Langer, trying to sweep the three playoff events and win the Charles Schwab Cup season points title for the fourth straight year and fifth overall, was tied for 22nd at 3 under after a 68.
Kevin Sutherland and former Arizona State player Billy Mayfair were 10 under. Sutherland eagled the 18th for a 63, the best round of the week. Mayfair shot 65.
Goydos won last year at Desert Mountain in Scottdale, about 35 miles northeast of the new venue just north of downtown Phoenix. He's trying to join Mike Hill (1990-91), Jim Thorpe (2006-07) and John Cook (2009-10) as the only players to win the season finale in consecutive years.
The two-time PGA Tour winner took the 3M Championship in Minnesota in August — shooting a tour season-best 60 in the second round — for his fifth senior title.