Eagle gives Simpson 63, 1-shot lead at TPC Boston
NORTON, Mass. – The putt is one that Webb Simpson never practices enough. He wasn’t sure it even required his putter.
He worked it to perfection. From just over 70 feet away off the green on the par-5 18th, Simpson rolled in the eagle putt for an 8-under 63 to take a one-shot lead Saturday at the halfway point of the Dell Technologies Championship.
“You just kind of laugh at those because you’re not trying to make them, you’re just trying to get them close,” Simpson said. “The grass around the greens is firm enough to where the ball runs pretty smoothly. I didn’t like my lie to chip it. I decided to putt it, and it came off really nice, just how I wanted it.”
A gorgeous Saturday in New England allowed for low scoring at the TPC Boston.
Tyrrell Hatton of England had eight birdies with his store-bought putter for a 63 and was one shot behind, along with Justin Rose (67). Tommy Fleetwood made it a trio of Englishman near the top with his 65, leaving him three shots behind.
Tiger Woods got into the act, too. Woods only once came close to bogey, making a 12-foot par putt on the par-3 11th hole, and gave himself ample opportunities in his round of 66. It was an important day to move forward with conditions ripe for scoring, though he still was seven shots behind Simpson.
“I’ve got some work to do still,” Woods said. “This is a golf course you can’t sit still on. You have to keep making birdies. You have to keep getting after it. Conditions are going to be like this the rest of the weekend. You’re going to see plenty of birdies out there.”
Simpson was at 11-under 131, worth little more than pole position going into the final two days before the Labor Day finish.
Ten players were assured of their season ending by missing the cut, meaning they will not finish among the top 70 to advance to the third event in the FedEx Cup playoffs next week outside Philadelphia.
PGA Tour Champions
CALGARY, Alberta – Joe Durant eagled the par-5 18th for a 7-under 63 and a one-stroke lead over Miguel Angel Jimenez in the PGA Tour Champion’s Shaw Charity Classic.
Durant birdied the first four holes on the back nine and bogeyed the par-4 15th before pulling ahead with the closing eagle. The four-time PGA Tour champion won the Chubb Classic in Florida in February for his third senior title.
Durant had an 11-under 129 total. Jimenez birdied the final two holes for a 66. The Spaniard has six victories on the 50-and-over tour, winning major titles this year in the Regions Tradition and Senior British Open. He finished second behind Scott McCarron last year at Canyon Meadows.
Kirk Triplett, tied for the first-round lead with Jimenez after a 64, had a 67 to drop two strokes back at 9 under. McCarron was fourth at 8 under after a 65.
LPGA Tour
PORTLAND, Ore. – Georgia Hall pulled away from Minjee Lee late in the third round to take a two-stroke lead in the Cambia Portland Classic.
The Women’s British Open winner four weeks ago for her first LPGA Tour title, Hall shot a 3-under 69. She birdied the par-3 16th and par-4 17th and made a 6-foot par save on the par-4 18th at treelined Columbia Edgewater.
The 22-year-old Englishwoman had an 18-uner 198 total. She opened with a 66 and shot 63 on Friday.