Today’s tee times moved up because of rain forecast
Because of inclement weather that is expected to move through the Houston area Sunday, tee times for the final round of the Shell Houston Open were moved up.
Players will go off in threesomes from the No. 1 and No. 10 tee boxes starting at 7:15 a.m. The final group will tee off at 9:05 a.m.
Officials are hopeful the final round will be completed by 1 p.m., just before the heavy rain hits the Golf Club of Houston.
Computer weather models call for a 30 percent chance of rain from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. By noon, the chance of rain increases to 50 percent. By 2 p.m., thunderstorms are likely with a 70 percent chance of rain.
“The main concern on Sunday is the growing severe weather threat,” said Wade Stettner, the PGA Tour’s on-site meteorologist. “The atmospheric conditions are really setting up for a severe weather outbreak across Southeast Texas.”
7-under 65 puts List in contention
After seeing Rickie Fowler light up the Golf Club of Houston on Thursday and Sung Kang better Fowler’s 64 the next day with a 63, Luke List got in on the action Saturday.
List had a stretch of five consecutive birdies en route to a 7-under-par 65 and is in fourth place entering Sunday’s final round. List’s 65, which included eight birdies, was the low round Saturday.
“I tried to keep going,” List said. “Whenever you make a bunch of birdies on the front nine, you get stagnant. I do, anyway. That mindset is to keep going.
“You’re trying to give yourself as many opportunities. And fortunately, I was able to do that and make a few birdies on the back (nine).”
List got it going on the fourth hole with his first birdie and followed with birdies on 6,7, 8, 9 and 10. He also had birdies on 13 and 16.
Houston layout appeals to Henley
Russell Henley’s last 12 rounds at the Golf Club of Houston have been under par.
It is a layout Henley has played well, having finished in the top 10 at the Shell Houston Open the past three years.
In Saturday’s third round, Henley shot a 3-under 69 and is in third place at 13 under after three rounds. He shot 6767 the first two rounds.
Birdies on 17 and 18 on Saturday elevated Henley into the final threesome Sunday.
“I love how I finished,” Henley said. “I hit great shots coming in. Right on my targets.”
Henley tied for seventh at the SHO in 2014, finished fourth in 2015 and shared fifth in 2016.
Odds and ends
Rickie Fowler’s 22 birdies through three rounds is the most of his career, bettering his 19 through 54 holes at the 2012 Players Championship. … The most difficult hole of the third round was the par-4 fifth (4.395). The easiest was the par-5 eighth (4.765). … Aaron Baddeley had 40 bogeyfree holes before taking a 6 on the par-4 fifth hole Saturday.