Stenson tied for lead at Bay Hill
Woods seven strokes behind co-leaders, who include DeChambeau
ORLANDO, FLA.» Henrik Stenson gave himself another opportunity to win at Bay Hill, and he made it a little bit tougher on Tiger Woods.
Stenson made three big par saves at the turn to keep the round from getting away from him, ran off three consecutive birdies on his back nine and posted a 3-under-par 69 that gave him a share of the 36-hole lead Friday with Bryson DeChambeau at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The chilly weather warmed in the afternoon, just not enough for Woods to do the same. He didn’t make a birdie until the 12th hole, never had a birdie putt inside 12 feet except for the par-5 holes on the back nine, and did well to scrap it around for a 72 to go into the weekend seven shots behind.
“I didn’t hit the ball close. I didn’t hit the ball well,” Woods said. “But I was just hanging in there ... just try not to shoot myself out of the tournament.”
DeChambeau finished strong with an 8-iron into 7 feet for an eagle on the par-5 16th and an approach to 4 feet for a birdie on the 18th, giving him a 6-under 66 and his third time with a share of the 36-hole lead on the PGA Tour.
“I think every week I’m good enough to win or play my best,” he said. “It’s just sometimes a kick here, a break here and that’s just what happens.”
Stenson and DeChambeau were at 11-under 133 overall, two shots clear of PGA Tour rookie Talor Gooch (70).
Stenson had a two-shot lead going into the final round in 2015 at Bay Hill and stumbled at the end after getting put on the clock. Two years ago, he was tied for the lead with five holes to play until posting two bogeys over the next three holes.
His putting carried him to a 64 in the opening round, and it saved him again Friday.
“I made some great par putts and a bunker up-and-down, so that was really key today to keep the round going,” Stenson said. “I didn’t drop a shot, where I could have easily dropped three shots on those holes. So that was crucial.”
Clanton’s 67 worth Founders Cup lead.
PHOENIX» Cydney Clanton holed out from the fairway for an eagle on the par-4 13th and closed with a birdie Friday to take the secondround lead in the Founders Cup.
Clanton shot a 5-under 67, playing the back nine at Desert Ridge in 5-under 31 to reach 9under 135 overall.
Clanton’s wedge on the 13th flew into the cup on the first bounce. She also birdied the par-5 11th and 15th and the par-4 18th. The 28year-old former Auburn player is winless on the LPGA Tour.
Ariya Jutanugarn, Marina Alex, Karine Icher and Mariajo Uribe were one stroke back on a calmer day after wind made scoring more difficult Thursday.