Simpson’s eagle putt gives him one-shot lead in Massachusetts

Woods shoots 66 but is seven back after third round

NORTON, Mass. — The putt is one that Webb Simpson never practices enough. He wasn’t sure it even required his putter.

He worked it to perfection. From just over 70 feet away off the green on the par-5 18th, Simpson rolled in the eagle putt for an 8-under 63 to take a one-shot lead Saturday at the halfway point of the Dell Technologies Championship.

“You just kind of laugh at those because you’re not trying to make them, you’re just trying to get them close,” Simpson said. “The grass around the greens is firm enough to where the ball runs pretty smoothly. I didn’t like my lie to chip it. I decided to putt it, and it came off really nice, just how I wanted it.”

A gorgeous Saturday in New England allowed for low scoring at the TPC Boston.

Tyrrell Hatton of England had eight birdies with his store-bought putter for a 63 and was one shot behind, along with Justin Rose (67).

Tiger Woods got into the act, too.

Woods only once came close to bogey, making a 12-foot par putt on the par-3 11th hole, and gave himself ample opportunities in his round of 66. It was an important day to move forward with conditions ripe for scoring, though he still was seven shots behind Simpson.

■ LPGA: At Portland, Ore., Georgia Hall pulled away from Minjee Lee late in the third round to take a twostroke lead in the Cambia Portland Classic.

The Women’s British Open winner four weeks ago for her first LPGA Tour title, Hall shot a 3-under 69. She birdied the par-3 16th and par-4 17th and made a 6-foot par save on the par-4 18th at tree-lined Columbia Edgewater.

■ EPGA: At Aarhus, Denmark, Lee Westwood moved in sight of his first win in more than four years after taking a one-stroke lead in the Made In Denmark event after a 5-under 67 in the third round.

The 45-year-old Westwood, a former world No. 1, will be a vice-captain for Europe at the Ryder Cup in Paris this month and his impressive performance this week looks like ending Matthew Fitzpatrick and Eddie Pepperell’s hopes of getting in the team.

■ Champions: At Calgary, Alberta, Joe Durant eagled the par-5 18th for a 7-under 63 and a one-stroke lead over Miguel Angel Jimenez in the PGA Tour Champion’s Shaw Charity Classic.

Durant birdied the first four holes on the back nine and bogeyed the par-4 15th before pulling ahead with the closing eagle. The fourtime PGA Tour champion won the Chubb Classic in Florida in February for his third senior title.

Michael Dwyer The Associated Press Webb Simpson reacts after his eagle on the 18th hole during Saturday’s second round of the Dell Technologies Championship at TPC Boston in Norton, Mass.