Westwood leads, gets another shot at DeChambeau
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLA. » One week later, the two leading characters and the roles they play are still the same.
Only the stage — and the stakes — have changed.
Lee Westwood went from surprise to delight when his tee shot to the island green on the par-3 17th stayed on the top ridge, and then he trickled in a 25-foot birdie putt that carried him to a 4-under 68 on Saturday at The Players Championship.
Bryson DeChambeau pumped his powerful arms twice when he made a 15-foot par putt on the 18th hole, giving him a 67 and leaving him two shots behind and in the final group with Westwood.
That’s how it was last week at Bay Hill, when DeChambeau came from one shot behind to beat Westwood with a par on the final hole at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
“It’s like Round 2, the rematch,” Westwood said.
Westwood, who turns 48 next month, no longer has to go up a few classes to face DeChambeau, golf’s fearsome heavyweight. Unlike Bay Hill, the TPC Sawgrass is all about position, not power.
Then again, DeChambeau is playing well enough for any style of golf course.
“I suppose if you sat Bryson down here and you asked him which golf course would suit him more, he’d probably say Bay Hill,”
Westwood said. “You can open your shoulders a little bit more around Bay Hill than you can around here. This place is a little bit more strategic. But credit to Bryson. You wouldn’t associate this golf course with his style of play, and he’s up there. It shows he can adapt his game.”
It was the first time the same two players were in the final group in consecutive PGA Tour events in more than 14 years, with one big difference. This one is separated by seven days. Vijay Singh and Adam Scott faced off nine weeks apart —
the season-ending Tour Championship in 2006 and the season-opening Mercedes Championship at Kapalua.
Westwood capped off his round with a 5-foot par putt, extending his streak to 44 holes without a bogey, and he’s dropped only two shots this week on a Stadium Course where one swing can lead to a big number.
Westwood was at 13-under 203.
“He’s making a lot of amazing putts, too,” DeChambeau said. “That’s what it takes to win golf tournaments.”
Sixers star center Joel Embiid has a bone bruise on his left knee and could miss at least two weeks, according to a person with knowledge of the injury.
Embiid did not suffer structural damage to his knee and will be evaluated again in two weeks. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Saturday because the severity of the injury had not been announced.
Embiid was injured in the Sixers’ win Friday over Washington.
Embiid landed awkwardly after a dunk on his left leg, his knee joint appearing to bend slightly forward. He writhed in pain on the floor for several minutes, and a stretcher was briefly brought on the court, but the center limped off under his own power.
Embiid has emerged as an MVP candidate after helping the 76ers to the Eastern Conference lead. He’s averaging 29.9 points and 11.5 rebounds in 31 games.
The 76ers host San Antonio on Sunday.