Singh leads Senior PGA
Langer is just one shot back
Vijay Singh used his power to take advantage of rain-softened Trump National, shooting a 5under 67 to move one shot ahead of Bernhard Langer in the third round of the Senior PGA Championship.
The 54-year-old Singh is 10 under par for the week on the par 5s at President Donald Trump’s 7,100-yard course on the shores of the Potomac River. He routinely outdrove the 59-year-old Langer by 30 yards and got up-anddown for birdie on the par-5 18th to maintain his one-shot advantage.
Singh had missed seven cuts in 11 starts this year on the PGA Tour and was considering spending more time on the PGA Tour Champions before he tied for 16th at The Players Championship.
Now, he’s not sure. He believes he was held back mostly by a foot injury and playing in cold weather.
“It’s difficult for me to move from the regular tour and come and feel the same excitement on the senior tour,” Singh said. “For some reason I have not got adjusted to that yet. This is a good week for me. It’s hopefully going to get my blood flowing again and hopefully it’s going to make up my mind.”
Langer stayed close to Singh despite an off day by his standards.
After missing just three greens in regulation in the first two rounds, he missed seven greens on Saturday. He shot 70.
His two-putt birdie on 18 was his only birdie on the back nine.
Langer is seeking his ninth senior major, which would break Jack Nicklaus’ record. He tied Nicklaus last week with a final-round 64 to win the Regions Tradition by five shots. The Senior PGA is the only senior major he hasn’t won.
“I’ve had some tremendous rounds on Sundays, this year especially. My lowest rounds came on Sundays this year. So that’s encouraging,” Langer said. “Hoping to pull another one tomorrow, but it doesn’t happen all the time.”
Billy Andrade made three birdies on the back nine to shoot 69 and was three shots back.
Bob Estes shot 67 and was alone in fourth, five shots behind.
Madison’s Jerry Kelly had a 69 and was tied for ninth. He was eight shots back.
PGA Tour: Webb Simpson shot a 3-under 67 to break out of a crowd and take the third-round lead at the Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas.
At 9-under 201, Simpson was two strokes ahead of Danny Lee and Paul Casey after both of them made long birdie putts at the 18th hole. Stewart Cink and Kevin Kisner were three strokes off the lead.
Defending champion Jordan Spieth shot a 68 with a caddie switch after making the turn, and was at 4 under. Spieth’s regular caddie, Michael Greller, left the course after 11 holes because of heat exhaustion.
Madison’s Steve Stricker had a 68 and was well off the pace.
LPGA Tour: Shanshan Feng shot a 6-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead after three rounds of the Volvik Championship in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Feng is 15 under for the tournament after a bogey-free round.
Lizette Salas (67) is in second place, one shot ahead of Suzann Pettersen (69).