San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Stricker puts on a show in return
THE WOODLANDS — Steve Stricker wanted to stay in bed Saturday morning and some of the players at the Insperity Invitational probably wish he did. Stricker took advantage of calm conditions with a 7-under 65 for a three-way share of the lead in his return to the PGA Tour Champions.
Stricker, who lost 25 pounds during a health scare that hospitalized him late last year, is competing for the first time in six months and already has a chance to win.
He was tied with Steve Alker (65) and hardcharging Brandt Jobe (64), who ran off five straight birdies on the back nine and then closed with another birdie when his 5-iron caromed off the wood framing the lake on the par-4 18th at The Woodlands.
They were at 12-under 132. Ken Duke was the next closed to them at 8-under 136.
Stricker had said he is still 10 pounds lighter than when he first started feeling ill, about a month after the U.S. captain led his team to a rout in the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits. He also was concerned with endurance having only played cart golf when getting ready.
It just hasn’t looked that way on the golf course.
He said he told wife Nicki, who is caddying for him, that maybe he shouldn’t play next week if this is how he was going to feel — tied for the lead after one round and still feeling lethargic instead of excited about contending. That feeling went away.
“It’s just a progression, I think, and just keep
plugging along,” Stricker said. “Feel a little out of sorts when I’m up around the lead. It’s been awhile, but it’s good. It’s what I come out here for, and excited to be in this position.”
For Jobe, it was a mild surprise.
He was playing solidly and then surged into contention with five straight birdies, most of them in the 10-foot range except for one birdie that he chipped in. The surprise came at the end.
Jobe pulled his tee shot into the trees left of the 18th fairway. He wanted to go left and keep it just short of the green. Instead, his 5-iron from 187 yards came out straight at the flag, and Jobe expected it to go in the water. It hit the wooden frame, bounced out to about 12 feet beyond the hole and he made it for a birdie to share the lead,
“I got lucky. I mean, that was a bonus,” Jobe
said.
Rahm up by 2 at Mexico Open
Jon Rahm birdied the last two par 5s and got some help from a couple of poor chips by Cameron Champ to take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Mexico Open at Puerto Vallara.
Rahm, whose last victory was the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines last summer, pumped his fist Saturday when he holed a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th for a 3-under 68.
He liked how he played tee-to-green. Rahm said he hopes he can see a few more putts drop.
“That one on 18 was the first one outside 10 feet I saw roll in,” Rahm said. “If I can just keep that going and make putts like I did the first two days, I think tomorrow I’ll give myself a really good chance.”
Kurt Kitayama was tied
with Champ after a 66 that also featured some late struggles. He was tied for the lead when he blocked his tee shot on the par-3 17th so far to the right that it ran across a cart path onto a dirt lie. He did well to make bogey.
Bekker leading at Catalunya
Oliver Bekker eagled the par-5 15th hole for the second straight day to shoot a 5-under 67 on Saturday and take a twostroke lead going into the final round of the Catalunya Championship at Girona, Spain.
Bekker, 11-under 205 for the tournament, made four birdies and a lone bogey at the Stadium Course in northeastern Spain. Laurie Canter finished two shots back after coming into the third round a shot ahead of Bekker and James Morrison.