Kim nears another title after ace, 62
Won first crown at ’16 Wyndham; Kelly still in charge
Si Woo Kim thinks he’s playing like he did four years ago when he earned his first PGA Tour victory at the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C.
That could be a really bad omen for those chasing Kim Sunday in the final round.
Kim had a hole in one on the way to 62 and a twoshot lead over Doc Redman and Rob Oppenheim after three rounds of the PGA Tour’s final event before the playoffs.
Kim got going with his ace on the 161-yard third hole and didn’t let up — much like he felt here in 2016.
Every drive that year hit the fairway. Each approach shot was tight to the pin. And any putt rattled the bottom of the cup, he recalled.
“I feel like pretty similar this year,” Kim said.
There’s a critical difference that could make Kim even harder to beat, he believes — he knows how to finish as a champion.
“This time, I already win two times, so that’s the good experience for me,” he said.
Kim, who’s at 18-under after 54 holes, made history three years ago when at 21 he became the youngest winner of The Players Championship. Now, he’s seeking his first victory since — and playing strongly wherever he tees it up.
Kim has broken 70 in nine of his past 10 rounds, including all four at TPC Harding Park to finish tied for 13th at the PGA Championship. He has continued that stellar play at Sedgefield Country Club, where he won his first PGA Tour event in 2016.
Redman had a 63, while Oppenheim set a career low on tour with a 62 in second at 16-under.
Billy Horschel shot a 65 and was three strokes back at 15-under. Mark Hubbard (64) and Jim Herman were another stroke back at 14 under. Herman shot a 61, a career best and tied for lowest round of the tournament.
But it was Kim’s sizzling play that stood out in this one. He almost had a second ace when he clipped the cup on the par-3 12th hole and settled 14 inches away for another birdie. He kept it up with birdies on the 15th, 16th and 17th holes to take the lead.
Kelly still hangs on
Jerry Kelly bogeyed two of the last four holes for another even-par 70 on Firestone’s challenging South Course, leaving him with a one-stroke lead at the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship in Akron, Ohio. The only player at par or better after two days in the PGA Tour Champions’ first major of the season, Kelly — at 2 under — had some company in red numbers going into the final round. Woody Austin and Scott Parel each shot 67, and Colin Montgomerie had a 68 to get to 1 under on the testing course that was the longtime site of a PGA Tour event and later a World Golf Championships tournament.
Scottish rule
Connor Syme, 25, will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Celtic Classic in Newport, Wales. Scotland’s Syme carded eight birdies in a flawless third round of 8-under 63 at Celtic Manor, the venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup, to move 15 under for the tournament. Sam Horsfield (68), who won his first European Tour title two weeks ago, is in second place.
Lewis loses lead
Spaniard Azahara Munoz birdied the 18th hole to take a one-shot lead after the third round of the Ladies Scottish Open in North Berwick. Munoz shot a 2-under 69 for a 7-under 206 total, just ahead of American Stacy Lewis (70). The two players had shared the overnight lead.