Close battle at BMW Championship
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Justin Rose did his part on another day of low scoring at the BMW Championship, running off four straight birdies early for a 6-underpar 64 and a one-shot lead over Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele after Saturday’s third round.
At stake for Rose is moving to No. 1 in the World Golf Ranking for the first time in his career.
Still ahead is a final round at soggy Aronimink Golf Club that could take more than one day to complete because of rain in the forecast. There were 13 players within five shots of Rose’s 17-under 193 lead, and that group included Tiger Woods, who shot a 66 but made up no ground.
“If you shoot 65, you were losing ground,” McIlroy said with only slight exaggeration after shooting a 63.
Rose made four straight birdies early on the front nine to quickly erase a two-shot deficit to Schauffele, and he finished the front nine birdie-birdie for a 29. Schauffele, hopeful a victory will give United States captain Jim Furyk a reason to pick him for the Ryder Cup, stayed with Rose until he three-putted from the tight collar on the 18th hole for a bogey and a 67.
McIlroy picked himself up quickly from a double bogey on the par-3 eighth hole with a 3-wood onto a green so soft on the par-5 ninth that it barely bounced forward and caught a slope down toward the pin, leaving him a short eagle putt. Three birdies over the last six holes helped him make the final group.
Baylor School graduate Keith Mitchell had his third straight 67 and was tied for 26th at 9 under, while fellow former Red Raiders standout Luke List also shot a 67 and was 38th at 7 under.
The top 30 in the FedEx Cup standings after the final round will advance to East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta for the Tour Championship in two weeks. Bryson DeChambeau already has clinched the No. 1 seed with victories in the opening two playoff events.
The more interesting race is at the bottom.
Jordan Spieth salvaged his round late again for a 66, but he still was just outside the top 30. He has never missed the Tour Championship, and he likely would face some form of penalty from not having added a new tournament to his schedule without competing in at least 25 events. He needs to be at East Lake to reach 25.
Keegan Bradley made two tough pars for a 66 and narrowly edged past Spieth for the 30th spot in the projected standings. Bradley is one of the golfers who would secure a place in all four majors next year by getting to the Tour Championship.
Scoring was the lowest it has been all week with an average round of 67.17. Only six players from the 69-man field were over par, and there was a 62 for the third straight round. Tommy Fleetwood has two of them, Friday and Saturday, and he was tied for fourth, just two shots behind, after opening with a 71.
Also in fourth was Rickie Fowler, despite a bogey on the final hole for a 65, who is trying to win for the first time this year. Bradley was in sixth at 14 under.
Tee times were pushed back three hours Saturday because of overnight rain that kept falling into the morning. Starting times have been moved up to 7 this morning with hopes of having enough time to weather any storm.
Fitzpatrick leads
CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland — Matthew Fitzpatrick sank a 40-foot putt for a birdie on the 18th hole at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club and held a twoshot lead going into the final round of the European Masters.
The 24-year-old Englishman had five birdies and an eagle for a 7-under 63 and was at 14-under 196 overall as he tries to repeat as the tournament’s winner.
France’s Mike Lorenzo-Vera (64) was second, with five golfers tied for third and two shots further behind.