Tavatanakit goes up by five
Patty Tavatanakit opened a five-stroke lead on another hot and windy day at the ANA Inspiration, all but crushing her challengers’ hopes with a combination of power and touch.
A stroke ahead after each of the first two rounds at Mission Hills, the 21-year-old shot a five-under 67 in 100degree heat Saturday to reach 14-under 202 in the first major of the year.
Tavatanakit matched the tournament 54-hole record set by Pernilla Lindberg in her 2018 victory. Dottie Pepper set the overall mark of 19 under in 1999.
Defending champion Mirim Lee and Ally Ewing were second at nine under in the event being played without spectators for the second time in seven months.
Tavatanakit crushed drives — hitting a 337-yarder on the par-five 11th — and was equally as effective on and around the greens.
The tour rookie is trying to become the sixth straight international winner in the tournament.
Spieth tied for lead
Still looking for his first victory since the 2017 British Open, Jordan Spieth shot a five-under 67 to move into a tie for the lead heading into the final round of the Valero Texas Open at San Antonio.
Spieth and Matt Wallace are at 12 under after each player birdied his final two holes of the day. Wallace also posted a 67, and Charley Hoffman is alone in third at 10 under after shooting a 65.
Hoffman was seven shots back after a bogey at No. 4, but he finished up with six birdies and sank a five-foot eagle putt at the 14th. He won here five years ago.
Three consecutive bogeys early on the back nine sent second-round leader Cameron Tringale to a 73 that put him at eight under for the tournament.
Spieth has been knocking on the door the last two months. He led heading into the final round at Pebble Beach. He shared the lead with 18 to go at Phoenix and led at the Arnold Palmer Invitational with 11 holes to go.
Time has about run out on Rickie Fowler’s chances to make his 11th straight Masters appearance. He has to win to get in, but his 69 has him in 21st place and nine shots out of the lead.
That’s a no-go
The PGA Tour will not move the Tour Championship out of Georgia in response to the state’s controversial new voting laws.