Goosen, Furyk share Transitions lead

Palm Harbor, Fla. — Retief Goosen felt so much pain in his lower back that he decided to pull out of next week’s tournament and get treatment. One day later, he found himself atop the leaderboard in the Transitions Championship.

Goosen ran off three straight birdies late in his round Saturday for a 6-under 65, giving him a share of the lead with Jim Furyk with more than just another PGA Tour victory at stake.

Today is Goosen’s last chance to qualify for the Masters.

Furyk, coming off his worst season since he was a rookie, hit a 6-iron to 3 feet for birdie on the par-3 15th hole and had the lead to himself until a three-putt bogey up a steep slope on the 18th. He had a 66.

The two past champions at Innisbrook were at 11-under 202, with plenty of others behind them.

Goosen started the third round five shots behind Jason Dufner, who had a 70. Going into the final round, there were 26 players within five shots of the lead on a Copperhead course that allows birdies early, and demands close to perfection down the stretch.

Sang- moon Bae found that out the hard way.

Bae, a rookie from South Korea who reached the quarterfinals of the Match Play Championship until losing to Rory Mcilroy, had the lead to himself for most of the back nine until Furyk caught him at the 15th.

On the next hole, Bae drove into the trees to