Pair share lead as Homa lurks

PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Keegan Bradley hit one of his worst shots of the third round, and it led to eagle. Sam Burns hit a pair of tee shots right where he wanted, and they cost him bogeys. They finished where they started Saturday in the Valspar Championship, tied for the lead — but now they have company from Max Homa. However, Bradley and Burns both put a positive spin to the sloppy finish on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook. Burns had a three-shot lead with five holes remaining, and he had to make an eight-foot bogey putt on the 18th hole for a 2-under-par 69 just to have a chance at sharing the lead. “I can’t change anything from today,” Burns said. “So tomorrow will be a fresh start and we’ll try to work our process and go out there and try to take care of business.” Bradley, whose chip-in for eagle on the par-5 14th turned his fortunes quickly, was in the middle of the 18th fairway when he came up short in a bunker with a front pin. He blasted out to seven feet and missed on the low side — the fourth putt from inside 10 feet he missed on the back nine. “I still shot 69 and I’m still tied for the lead,” Bradley said. “So all good.” They were at 14-under 199, Homa was a shot back after a 66 and four players were tied for fourth at 10 under. Chattanooga native Keith Mitchell (71) was tied for 47th at 2 under.

FOOTBALL

› Green Bay Packers CEO Mark Murphy said he is “very much aware” of quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ concerns with the organization and acknowledges team officials have flown out to meet the reigning MVP on multiple occasions. Murphy added that the Packers want to keep Rodgers in Green Bay in 2021 and beyond. He discussed the Rodgers situation in a column posted on the Packers’ website on Saturday. “This is an issue that we have been working on for several months,” Murphy wrote. Murphy said he, general manager Brian Gutekunst and coach Matt LaFleur “have flown out on a number of occasions to meet with Aaron.” ESPN reported Thursday that Rodgers has indicated he doesn’t want to return to the Packers.