Pieters, Johnson share lead at WGC
Thomas Pieters of Belgium ended his roller-coaster round with his eighth birdie, a 30-footer that rammed into the back of the cup for a 4-under 66 that gave him a share of the lead with Zach Johnson in the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.
Pieters, who led by as many as three shots with his quick start Saturday, ran into trouble off the tee and kept dropping shots on the back nine. Moments after Johnson holed a 10-foot birdie on the 18th for a 65 to take the lead, Pieters joined him with his long putt.
Pieters made only three pars over his last 11 holes, yet he still has his best chance to win in America.
Johnson, who hasn’t won since he captured his second major at St. Andrews two years ago, gave up some 30 yards to Rory McIlroy through their round. But on a Firestone course on which he has never contended, he was efficient as ever.
They were at 9-under 201, and they had plenty of company. One shot behind was Scott Hend of Australia, who posted a 63 even with two three-putt bogeys. Hend took only 10 putts over the final 11 holes, three of them from 30 feet or longer.
Hideki Matsuyama, already with one World Golf Championship he won last fall in Shanghai, had a 67 and was two shots behind.
McIlroy certainly has his long game in order. McIlroy kept pounding away with driver and through three rounds has hit 39 of his 42 drives longer than 300 yards. Getting the wedges dialed in, and making putts has been holding him back.
Even so, McIlroy managed a 68 and was three shots behind, along with Adam Hadwin and Charley Hoffman, who each shot 67.
“I felt like I could have got a lot more out of it,” McIlroy said. “I think if I would have walked off today with a 65 or a 66, I would have felt that was a fair reflection of how I played.”
Jordan Spieth, meanwhile, took bogey on the last two holes for a 71 to slip seven shots behind in his bid to win his third straight tournament going into the PGA Championship next week.
Women’s British Open:
I.K. Kim shot a 6-under 66 at St. Andrews, Scotland, to build a six-shot lead as she goes after her first major championship. Kim faced a battle before she even teed off at Kingsbarns Links. Inbee Park tied a course record with a 64 to get within one shot. Stacy Lewis shot a 65 and was two shots behind.
Paul Goydos shot a tournament-record 60 and is tied with Kenny Perry and Gene Sauers after two rounds of the 3M Championship in Blaine, Minn. Perry shot his second straight 65. Sauers shot an 8-under 64.
Richy Werenski birdied six holes and eagled No. 18 late Friday to take a two-point lead in the Barracuda Championship in Reno, Nev., the PGA Tour’s only modified Stableford scoring event.
Champions: PGA Tour: