Another 59 in the books
Canadian Hadwin grabs lead in Calif.
By The Associated Press
Canadian Adam Hadwin shot a 13-under 59 Saturday in the CareerBuilder Challenge in La Quinta, Calif., for the ninth sub-60 round in PGA Tour history and the second in 10 days.
In cool, clear conditions in the desert after rain the previous two days, Hadwin, 29, reached 13 under with a 7foot birdie putt on the par-4 17th and got up-and-down for par — making a 3-footer — from just off the green on the par-4 18th at La Quinta C.C.
Justin Thomas had an 11under 59 last week in Hawaii in the first round of his Sony Open victory. Hadwin matched David Duval’s tournament record, a 13-under 59 on the Arnold Palmer Private Course in the final round of his 1999 victory. Jim Furyk shot a tour-record 12-under 58 in the 2016 Travelers Championship.
Hadwin took the lead at 17-under 199 after starting the day in danger of missing the cut at 4 under. He played the first two days at PGA West, shooting 71 on the Nicklaus Course and 69 on the Stadium Course.
Other tournaments
Abu Dhabi Championship: Over his jet lag and familiar with the golf course, Dustin Johnson is finally a real factor in United Arab Emirates. The reigning U.S. Open champion shot an 8-under 64 in the third round to catapult into title contention in his first event of 2017. He started the day eight shots off the lead and finished it in a five-way tie for second at 12 under par, one stroke behind new leader Tyrrell Hatton (68) of England. Martin Kaymer (72), seeking a fourth victory in Abu Dhabi, started the third round with a one-shot lead over Rafa Cabrera Bello (74), but they were two of the 14 players who failed to break par.
Mitsubishi Electric Championship: Bernhard Langer was declared the winner in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, after strong winds blowing across the course halted play. It was Langer’s 30th victory on the PGA Tour Champions, moving him into second place on the career list behind Hale Irwin, who has 45 wins on the senior circuit. Langer became the first person to win this event three times. Sustained winds of 15-25 mph with gusts up to 45 had golf balls rolling off the greens in the tour’s first event of 2017. Only five golfers in the field of 47 finished their rounds, and the scoring average soared to 79.027.