U.S. Women’s Open:
Ian Poulter controlled his swing, ball, and temperament in what he described as “brutally tough conditions” to move in sight of his first worldwide title in 4½ years at the Scottish Open on Saturday.
In sideways rain and strong winds on Scotland’s west coast, clubs slipped from players’ hands, hardy fans’ umbrellas were blown inside out, and puddles formed on fairways on the battered Dundonald Links.
A re-energized Poulter relished the links test, making three birdies in his first seven holes before battling the worst weather of the week on his back nine to shoot a 1-under 71. He was tied on 9 under par overall with playing partner and fellow Englishman Callum Shinkwin, whose 68 was arguably the round of the day given the circumstances, and Australian Andrew Dodt (69).
“It was a job just to hold the umbrella,” said Poulter, who is hitting top form a week before playing the British Open at Royal Birkdale, where he was tied for second the last time it was staged there in 2008.
“There’s life in the old dog yet,” Poulter added with a smile, “and I’m relishing the opportunity tomorrow to go out and get stuck in.”
The last of Poulter’s 14 global victories was in November 2012 at the WGCHSBC Champions in China.
The Scottish Open is seen as an ideal tune-up for the British Open. Players probably could have done without conditions like they were on Saturday, though.
Matt Kuchar said he hit a 6-iron 127 yards.
“I was out there thinking what my friends back home would be doing,” said the Georgia resident, who shot 73 and was four shots off the lead.
Fellow American Rickie Fowler struggled to read the greens and was off line with his wedges in shooting 74. He was level with Kuchar, who dueled with Fowler for the Scottish Open title at Gullane in 2015. Fowler won with a birdie at the last. Front-running Shanshan Feng rolled in a short birdie putt on the final hole to take the third-round lead in the U.S. Women’s Open.
Teenager Hye-Jin Choi and perennial Open bridesmaid Amy Yang were a stroke back heading in the final round of the biggest event in women’s golf — and one that had an even bigger stage with President Donald Trump in attendance for the second straight day.
Feng, from China, shot a 1-under 71 to reach 9-under 207 at the president’s Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J. Choi and Yang each shot 70.
All three players are going to have Trump watching over them and probably a lot of South Korea, too, with the top six players chasing Feng all from the country.
Sung Hyun Park, the top rookie on the LPGA Tour, was 6 under after a 67.
Top-ranked So Yeon Ryu (71), Mirim Lee (67) and Jeongeun6 Lee (73) were 5 under.
Cristie Kerr, a former Open winner and a member at this course, gave the president an American to root for with a 70 that put her at 4 under with Spain’s Carlota Ciganda (72).
PGA Tour:
Patrick Rodgers shot a 3-under 68 to maintain a two-stroke lead in the John Deere Classic. Rodgers had a 16-under 197 total at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.
The former Stanford star is trying to become the third player in five years to win the Quad Cities event for his first PGA Tour title.
Daniel Berger shot a 63 to match Scott Stallings (64) at 14 under. Nicholas Lindheim (66) was 13 under, and Jamie Lovemark (66), Bryson DeChambeau (70) and J.J. Henry (68) were another stroke back. Area favorite Zach Johnson had a 70 to drop five strokes back.
Bernhard Langer shot a bogeyfree 6-under 66 and took advantage of Brandt Jobe’s late collapse to take a oneshot lead into the final round of the Constellation Senior Players Championship in Owings Mills, Md.
Langer had six birdies to complete the third round at 18 under. He trailed after 15 holes but made up three strokes over the next two holes to take control of the event he’s won the last three years. Jobe shot a 65 to finish the day in second place. Corey Pavin (71) and Scott McCarron (69) were tied for third at 12 under.
Senior Players: