Fowler leads at Honda Classic
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Winless for more than a year, Rickie Fowler finished strong Saturday for a 5-under-par 65 and built a four-shot lead going into the final round of the Honda Classic.
Fowler made two birdies over his final three holes of the third round at a relatively benign PGA National course as everyone else around him was making mistakes.
Fowler holed a 10-foot birdie putt on the 16th, got a potential break with a ruling behind the 17th green that allowed him to use a putter instead of a wedge, then closed with a drive so bold and big he had only a 7-iron into the par-5 18th that set up a two-putt birdie.
That put him at 13-under 197, four shots ahead of Tyrrell Hatton, who ran off three straight birdies to get within one of the lead until he went long on the 17th and made bogey. Then he left a wedge short of the 18th green and had to scramble for par and a 66.
Two-time major champion Martin Kaymer was in position to join him until he took bogey from the middle of the fairway on the 18th and wound up with a 68. That left him in a group tied for third at 7-under 203 with Emiliano Grillo (65), Sean O’Hair (65) Gary Woodland (66) — who made eagle on No. 18 — and Wesley Bryan (72), who had shared the lead with Ryan Palmer after the second round. Palmer slipped with a 73 Saturday and was one of 12 players in eighth place.
Fowler hasn’t won at all since January 2016 in Abu Dhabi. His last PGA Tour victory was at the Deutsche Bank Championship in September 2015.
The forecast was for strong wind today, which could make it tough for everyone.
“I know I have the lead, and it’s nice to go out in front,” Fowler said. “But you still have to play, and especially around this place, it can jump up and bite you at any time.”
Luke List is in a fourway tie for 28th at 4-under 206 after a 70. Fellow former Baylor School standout Harris English shot a 69 for the second straight day and shared 50th with five others at 1 under.
LPGA interrupted
CHONBURI, Thailand — Amy Yang carded 10 birdies and an eagle in 31 holes Saturday before the third round of the LPGA Thailand tournament was suspended due to darkness.
With five holes left, 17-under Yang had a fourshot advantage over Ryu So Yeon, whose completed third-round 68 gave her the clubhouse lead at 13-under 203.
The tournament was already behind schedule after rain and unplayable course conditions led to the unfinished second round being postponed to Saturday at the Siam Country Club Pattaya Old Course.
Yang was among five players to start their second round in the morning, including second-ranked Ariya Jutanugarn. Yang shot six birdies and a bogey for a second-round 67 and overall 11-under 133, heading into the third round with a one-shot lead over Jutanugarn (68) and Shanshan Feng (67).
In less than an hour, Yang went back for the third round and had two birdies — and an eagle on the seventh — for 15 under after eight holes. Play was stopped again due to lightning for more than an hour, and Yang sank more birdies on Nos. 10 and 11 on resumption before play was stopped for the day.
Jutanugarn is 10 under overall with five holes to complete. Feng is also 10 under with four holes left from the third round.
Joburg shortened
JOHANNESBURG — The Joburg Open was reduced to 54 holes after more rain left the course waterlogged and forced another suspension in play.
Many in the field hadn’t started their third rounds when thunder and lightning prompted organizers to halt play early in the afternoon. The third round is set to be completed today and will be the final round at the European Tour event at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.
Darren Fichardt and Paul Waring share the lead at 11 under, with Waring completing a 67 in his second round early Saturday. Fichardt was one of the few players to finish his second round Friday, when he shot a 67.
Dean Burmester and Jacques Kruyswijk are a shot behind and tied for third.