Stenson takes 1-shot lead at Bay Hill; Woods 5 back
Henrik Stenson did just enough right and was happy enough to take a one-shot lead in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, even if he wishes it could have been more.
Stenson missed a short birdie putt and a 12-foot eagle attempt on the back nine Saturday in Orlando, had his tee shot knocked down by a gust of wind that led to bogey and closed out a 1-underpar 71 to go into the final round with another chance to win at Bay Hill.
“I was looking for a little better,” Stenson said, “but I’m still in the lead.”
Bryson DeChambeau also missed his share of chances in a round of 72 and was one shot behind.
There are a number of players still very much in range, and one of them could be Tiger Woods.
Rory McIlroy made eagle on No. 12 and birdied two of his last three holes and was two shots behind. He will be in the penultimate group with Justin Rose, who shot a 67 while playing in the same group with Woods and the massive crowd. Rose wound up three shots behind. Ryan Moore (67) also was three back.
Woods made another bold play on the par-5 16th, this time with his ball near the lip of a bunker. Instead of pitching out to the fairway, he hit a shot over the trees and the water that set up a two-putt birdie, and he hit sand wedge into the 18th for a 12-foot birdie putt and a 69.
Woods was five shots behind.
“I’m within reach if I shoot a really, really low round tomorrow,” Woods said.
Of his record eight victories at Bay Hill, Woods has led six times and was tied for the lead another time. His lone comeback also was from five shots behind in 2009, when he rallied to beat Sean O’Hair with a 67 in the final round.
McIlroy has gone 26 tournaments since his last victory at the Tour Championship in 2016 to win the FedEx Cup.
LPGA Tour: Inbee Park played the first five holes in 6-under and finished with a 9-under 63 to take the lead into the final round of the Founders Cup in Phoenix.
Park reached 14-under to take a one-stroke lead over Mariajo Uribe (67) at Desert Ridge. Ariya Jutanugarn was two strokes behind at 12-under after her third 68.
Hall of Famer Laura Davies, 54, matched Park with a 63 to move into a tie for fourth at 11-under.
Michelle Wie, who won her first tournament title in nearly four years two weeks ago in Singapore, was tied for 23rd at 7-under after a 71.