CAPTAIN AMERICA HITS THE FRONT AS STATUE OF LIBERTY LOOKS ON
Patrick Reed last night shot a fourunder-par 67 to take a one-stroke lead into today’s final round of the Northern Trust in New Jersey.
The 2018 Masters champion shone with five birdies in his third round at Liberty National, but he was being hunted by a host of big names in the first Fedex Cup playoff event.
Reed, on 14-under-par, led by one from American-born Mexican Abraham Ancer, who shot 68, but Justin Rose, Danny Willett and Rory Mcilroy were among a strong chasing pack.
“It feels great,” said Reed.
“I have been hitting the ball well and feel like I’ve had control of the golf ball for a month and a half now. To finally see it pay off and be in contention going into Sunday is all I could ask for.”
Brandt Snedeker was one of the biggest movers of the day, climbing into a tie for third with Jon Rahm after holing five birdies and two eagles in a brilliant eight-under-par round of 63.
Sheffield’swillett also made good ground, recording a fiveunder-par 66 to move into joint fifth on 11-under alongside Rose and Harold Varner.
It could have been even better for Willett, who had five birdies and an eagle on his card, but for a bogey on the 18th.
Rose shot a 69 with a lot of good work, including four birdies and an eagle, undone by four dropped shots.
Rory Mcilroy also had four bogeys in a 70 and was one stroke back on 10-under.
The Northern Irishman shrugged off a rules controversy from Friday, when he was initially given a two-stroke penalty after touching what he thought was a stone in a bunker, but it turned out to be a clump of sand.
The penalty was later rescinded after it was determined he had not intended to improve his lie.
“It’s such a grey area and it came down to me,” Mcilroy said after his round on Friday, adding that he had accepted a two-stroke penalty on the course because he did not want to hold up play.
“I thought it was a rock; it wasn’t. I moved my hand away and then I was like, I don’t know if I’ve done anything wrong here.
“The reason I called someone over is I don’t want anything on my conscience, either.
“I feel like I play the game with integrity and I’m comfortable saying that I didn’t improve anything.”
Second-round leader Dustin Johnson failed to spark, shooting 74 to slip to nine-under while Fedex Cup leader Brooks Koepka was even further back on fiveunder-par following a thirdround 69.
Ian Poulter climbed the leaderboard with three birdies on the front nine but gave all those shots back after the turn to end where he started on eight-under.