It might get loud Pernice up by a shot
Conners still leads, but Tiger is in hunt
PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Tiger Woods chipped in from behind the ninth green, and the roar was unmistakable: the tree-rattling variety that belongs to only one player in golf. Moments later, Woods raised the putter in his left hand as another birdie putt dropped for a share of the lead at the Valspar Championship.
Corey Conners heard the whole round, and it made him smile.
Never mind that Conners, in search of his first PGA Tour victory, had six birdies on his way to a 3-under-par 68 and a one-shot lead after the third round Saturday. Even the golfer trying to beat Woods got swept up in the emotions of seeing him closer than ever to having a chance to win again.
“I can confirm he’s back. The roars are back,” said Brandt Snedeker, who was along for the ride with Woods and matched his 67. “It’s fun to hear the crowd going crazy again and realize how excited we are in having him back out here and playing the way he is. He’s playing great.”
Conners, the Canadian rookie in only his 17th start on the PGA Tour as a pro, saved par from the bunker on the par-3 17th and kept his cool when his ball moved slightly on the 18th green — no longer a penalty in those circumstances — before he tapped in for par. He was at 9-under 204 and will play with Justin Rose (66), who joined Woods and Snedeker in a tie for second.
For the second straight day, Woods and his thousands upon thousands of fans will be ahead of Conners. At least he knows what to expect.
“I kind of knew what was going on without even having to see it,” Conners said. “But it will be cool. It’s fun seeing him out there today, and I’m sure he’ll be battling hard tomorrow. But hopefully I can play
my game and have a good day.”
Conners smiled when he heard the cheer for Woods when he chipped in at No. 9.
For so many years, such a roar caused far more consternation than celebration among the rest of the field. Conners grew up idolizing Woods for his 14 majors titles and 79 victories on the PGA Tour, and it was hard for him not to get caught up in so much hysteria. Conners still settled himself with a wedge he nearly holed on No. 9 for a birdie of his own.
Woods dropped his only shot for the round on the 13th hole, about the time Conners was across the lake at No. 12, rolling in a 20-foot birdie putt to stretch his lead to two shots over Rose and three over Woods.
Most of the fans in the bleachers had their backs turned to watch Woods. It was like that all day.
“He’s on the leaderboard and challenging for the lead,” Rose said. “I think it’s exciting to have him back for the casual golf fan, but now the true Tiger fans get excited.”
Woods, who hasn’t won since his seven-shot victory in the Bridgestone Invitational in August 2013, understood
the feeling.
“I am excited,” he said. “I feel like I’m playing a bit better and cleaner. I moved myself up the board. I know it’s packed up there, but at least I’ve got a shot.”
Sam Burns (67) and Patrick Reed (67) were tied for fifth at 6 under, with four golfers another stroke back.
Luke List (69) had a share of 18th at 3 under, and fellow former Baylor School standout Stephan Jaeger (71) was tied for 60yh at 3 over.
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — Tom Pernice Jr. remained patient in cool, rainy, breezy conditions as he held on to a one-shot lead after two rounds of the PGA Tour Champions’ Toshiba Classic.
Pernice shot a 1-under 70 with a sloppy bogey on the par-5 18th as the leaderboard began to bunch up at Newport Beach Country Club. Joe Durant, Scott McCarron and Vijay Singh were among the players who challenged Pernice throughout the afternoon, and 13 players were within four shots of the lead heading into the final round.
The 58-year-old Pernice, a five-time winner on the 50-and-older tour, was at 8-under 134. Durant (66) and McCarron (68) were tied for second, and Singh (68) joined Scott Verplank (69) in a tie for fourth at 6 under.
Sharma, Wallace lead
NEW DELHI — India’s Shubhankar Sharma shared the lead with England’s Matt Wallace entering the final round of the Indian Open.
Sharma — who’s coming off a top-10 finish at the Mexico Championship, his first World Golf Championship appearance — shot a 72 with five birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey in the third round to move to 7-under 209 at the Europen Tour event. Wallace (70) had four birdies, four bogeys and eagled the par-4 ninth hole.
Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher (67) had the day’s low round and moved up 22 spots to third at 6 under.
Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo led by four strokes after 36 holes but struggled to a 78 Saturday and was tied for fourth with Andrew Johnston (73) and Matthias Schwab (68).