Spieth birdies 18th to keep Travelers lead
CROMWELL, CONN. » Jordan Spieth continues to play just a little better than anyone else at the Travelers Championship.
The 23-year-old Texan closed with a 20-foot birdie putt for a 4-under 66 on Saturday, giving him a one-stroke lead for the third straight round at TPC River Highlands.
After predicting earlier that it would take a score of 16 under to win, the two-time major champion took a 12-under 198 total into the final round.
Boo Weekley was second after a 65. The 43-year-old Weekley, playing just in front of Spieth, birdied five of the last eight holes, basking in the chants of “Boooo! Boooo!” from the raucous gallery.
Spieth bogeyed Nos. 13 and 14, but matched Weekley with three birdies on the final four holes, capping it with the final shot of the round from below the hole.
“It’s in the shadow,” Spieth said. “I’m looking to hit the putt at the right speed. If it goes in, great, if it doesn’t, so be it, tap it in. With a few feet to go it was going to have a chance and it curled right in the middle. That was a loud roar, and those are really fun to experience.
Weekley is looking for his fourth tour title and first since 2013. The colorful Floridian said he’s been dealing with personal issues, but declined to elaborate. His had a season-best tie for 37th at the Puerto Rico Open in March and has made just eight cuts in 21 events.
Spieth is looking for his 10th tour win and second this season after a victory in February at Pebble Beach.
Weekley acknowledged that makes for an odd final pairing Sunday.
“He loves to fish, so we’ve got a little in common there,” Weekley said. “So we can talk about that.”
Daniel Berger, looking for his second victory of the month, was three strokes back after a 66.
C.T. Pan (64), David Lingmerth (65) and Paul Casey (66) were 8 under.
Because of morning showers, the players went off in threesomes from both the first and 10th tees. But the breeze helped the greens quickly dry out and play faster than had been expected.
Ryu shoots course-record 61
ROGERS, ARK. » So Yeon Ryu shot a course-record 10-under 61 in the NW Arkansas Championship to take a five-stroke lead into the final round.
Ryu, the third-ranked South Korean star who won the ANA Inspiration in April for her second major title, reached 16 under to break the tournament 36-hole record by two strokes. She had her lowest score on the LPGA Tour and matched her professional best set in the 2012 Australian Ladies Masters.
Local favorite Stacy Lewis and Moriya Jutanugarn were tied for shot 65. second. They each
Broadhurst maintains 2-stroke lead
MADISON, WIS. » Paul Broadhurst shot a 3-under 69 in windy conditions at University Ridge to maintain a twostroke lead in the PGA Tour Champions’ American Family Insurance Open.
Broadhurst followed birdies on the par-5 16th and par-3 17th with a bogey on the par-4 18th to finish at 12-under 132.
“It was a tougher day today with the wind,” Broadhurst said. “I kept plugging away, really . ... I hit a poor driver on 18. There’s plenty of room right and I toed over underneath the trunk and it cost me a bogey. I’m still two ahead, so got to be happy.”
The 51-year-old Englishman opened with a 63. He won the Senior British Open and PURE Insurance Championship last year.
Garcia, Bland share lead
MUNICH » Sergio Garcia carded a 5-under 67 to join Richard Bland in a share of the lead in the third round of the BMW International Open.
Garcia, playing his first event in Europe since his Masters win, and Bland of England settled at 13 under overall going into Sunday’s final round.