Burns leads Day by one shot in Houston Open

Jason Day stumbled at the end at difficult Memorial Park, three-putting for bogey on the par-4 18th to fall a stroke behind Sam Burns in the Houston Open.

“Unfortunately, I just gave it a little bit too much gas,” Day said.

Winless in 2 1⁄ years and

2 fighting lingering back and neck problems, Day shot a 3-under-par 67 on Saturday to remain in contention in the final event before the Masters.

“Overall, it was a solid day,” the Australian star said. “I think I drove it nice, hit a lot of good iron shots and I was just very patient out there today, so it was good to see. Looking forward to tomorrow.”

Burns shot a 68 to hold onto the lead at 9-under 201.

“I think this golf course, it’s not a matter of if, it it’s a matter of when, when this golf course will hit you,” Burns said. “I think for me, just being able to hang in there.”

He eagled the par-5 eighth.

“I kind of necked the tee shot, but fortunately it stayed in the first cut,” Burns said.

Day had five birdies and two bogeys.

“I was just trying to be as patient as possible,” Day said. “I know it’s a Saturday round. Obviously, can’t win it today. You’ve got to just give yourself an opportunity to get into [Sunday’s] round.”

Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz was tied with Day after a 67. Sepp Straka (66) was 7-under.

Dustin Johnson, needing to finish solo 15th or better to remain No. 1 in the world, was 6-under after a 66 in his return from the coronavirus.

Aaron Wise (69) and Dawie van der Walt (69) joined Johnson at 6-under.

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS

Kevin Sutherland hit a sand wedge to inches on the par-5 18th for one last birdie on a windy Saturday afternoon in the desert at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Phoenix.

Sutherland shot a

7-under 64 to take a fivestroke lead into the final round at Phoenix Country Club. He had a 13-under 129 total.

“Yeah, it played hard, I just hit a lot of shots really close to the hole, hit it solid,” Sutherland said. “What was important for me today was I holed out of the bunker on 6. At that point I felt I couldn’t find a rhythm. After that, I I hit just about every shot right on the button and made a few putts and got a couple really close and just kind of snowballed.”

The tournament is the final official event of the year, but not the season as in the past. Because of the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent loss of tournaments, the 2020 and 2021 seasons have been combined with the Schwab Cup winner to be determined in a year.

The 56-year-old California player won the 2017 event — as well as the season points title — at treelined Phoenix Country Club for the first of his three PGA Tour Champions victories.

“This place has been so good to me,” Sutherland said. “It’s hard to believe that was three years ago that I won here and I won the Schwab Cup. This place has great memories for me.”

Sutherland had eight birdies and a bogey, playing the back nine in 5-under 30 in the high wind.

“My ball was wobbling on the tee on 16, it was kind of disconcerting,” Sutherland said. “It was a little disconcerting watching the ball kind of wobble a little bit as you’re getting ready to hit it.”

Wes Short Jr. was second after a 66.

“It was tough conditions I thought for the way the wind was blowing,” Short said. “I just didn’t hit it in play enough off the tee to really attack. It was just like defense-mode all day.”

Tom Lehman (67) and Paul Broadhurst (68) were 7-under, and Jim Furyk (68) was 6-under with Corey Pavin (67), Woody Austin (69) and Mike Weir (69).

“The way this course is, someone’s going to shoot a good round,” Sutherland said. “I might have to shoot something at least 3 or 4 under par [Sunday] to win. It doesn’t change my mindset at all. ”

First-round leaders Paul Goydos and Brandt Jobe dropped back after their opening 64s. Jobe was 5-under after a 73, and Goydos had a 75 to fall to 3-under.

EUROPEAN TOUR

Nineteen players advanced to the Sunday shootout in the Cyprus Showdown in Paphos, with Johannes Veerman of the United States and Matthew Jordan of England entering the final day full of confidence after shooting the lowest score in the third round.

In a first-of-its-kind format on the European Tour, the scores were reset after the first two days’ play and were again after Saturday’s round.

Veerman and Jordan both shot 7-under 64 and will tee off as part of the first group in Sunday’s final.

Bernd Ritthammer of Germany and Jamie Donaldson of Wales had 65s.