Thomas leads at Firestone as Woods fades
AKRON, Ohio – Justin Thomas pulled away from the crowd with five birdies in the middle of his round for a 3-under 67 and a three-shot lead going into the final round of the Bridgestone Invitational.
No one could keep pace with Thomas, least of all Tiger Woods.
Starting the third round Saturday five shots behind, Woods managed only one birdie and shot 73 to end his streak of 10 consecutive rounds at par or better during his comeback season. He was 11 shots behind.
Thomas, who defends his title next week in the PGA Championship, goes after his third victory of the season, but first in five months.
He plays in the final group with Rory McIlroy, who shot a 67 and was three behind. Ian Poulter (70) was three back.
PGA Tour
RENO, Nev. – Andrew Putnam (38) took the lead in the Barracuda Championship, three points ahead of playing partner Sam Saunders in the PGA Tour’s only modified Stableford scoring event.
Putnam had eight birdies and a bogey at windy Montreux Golf and Country Club, scoring 15 points under the format that awards eight points for albatross, five for eagle, two for birdie and zero for par, and subtracts a point for bogey and three for double bogey or worse.
Chasing his first PGA Tour victory, the 29-year-old from Tacoma, Washington, had 38 points overall.
Women’s British Open
Pornanong Phatlum held on to her overnight one-shot lead of the Women’s British Open after the third round on Saturday.
She was at 13 under overall, one stroke ahead of playing partner Georgina Hall of England, whose scrambling through an erratic round kept her in contention also for a first major title.
Champions Tour
Kenny Perry tied a tournament record with a 12-under 60 and has a fiveshot lead after two rounds of the 3M Championship.
Perry had two eagles and eight birdies at a wet TPC Twin Cities.