Bradley, Murray share lead at Sony Open
Fleetwood takes over lead in Dubai
HONOLULU — Keegan Bradley birdied his last two holes Saturday for a 7-under 63, giving him a share of the lead with Grayson Murray in a Sony Open that is far from a two-man race.
Six players were within three shots of the lead, typical for Waialae. It was so chaotic on a gorgeous afternoon up the shores from Waikiki that 10 players had at least a share of the lead at some point in the third round.
Getting some separation was tough, though Bradley and Murray at least got a little. Bradley hit a cut 6-iron to a back pin to 6 feet for birdie on the par-3 17th, and then his tee shot on the par-5 closing hole avoided the bunker. He had a good enough lie to get it on the green for a two-putt birdie.
That put him at 14-under 196. Murray soon joined him, getting up-and-down from the bunker left of the 18th green for his 64.
They led by one shot over Sam Stevens, who had a 63.
Among those still in the mix is Chris Kirk (67). He won The Sentry last week and at three shots behind can still entertain hopes of joining Justin Thomas in 2017 and Ernie Els in 2004 to sweep the Hawaii swing.
Bradley, a former PGA champion, will be trying to win for the third time in the last 16 months. He will be in the final group with Murray, a raw talent who went to three colleges and was battling alcohol problems three years ago, including one incident in Honolulu.
The group at 11-under 199 includes Matthieu Pavon of France, one of 10 players to earn PGA Tour cards through the European tour points list last year. Pavon ran off five straight birdies at the end of his second round, and he was among those leading on Saturday until he settled into a string of pars and one bogey on the back.
And then there’s Taiga Semikawa of Japan, playing on a Sony Open sponsor exemption. He is among 21 players on the Japan Golf Tour with the name Taiga. It doesn’t translate to “tiger” but it is pronounced that way, and it’s no coincidence.
DUBAI INVITATIONAL: In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tommy Fleetwood surged into the lead of the Dubai Invitational after shooting an 8-under 63 in the third round Saturday to overtake Rory McIlroy by one stroke.
Fleetwood made eight birdies in a flawless round, including four on his first six holes, to move to a 15-under total of 198.
McIlroy had been out in front since opening with a 62 on Thursday and led by two strokes going into the third round. But he settled for a 67 that left him in sole possession of second place.
Thorbjorn Olesen was another two shots back in third after a 66.
Fleetwood has six wins on the European tour but was surprised when he was told that this is the first time since 2014 that he is going into the final round with the lead.