Finau jumps out to 2-shot lead in Mexico
VALLARTA, Mexico — Tony Finau had a terrific stretch at the Mexico Open on Saturday, posting five birdies over his last seven holes for a 6-under 65 that gave him a two-shot lead over Masters champion Jon Rahm and 21-year-old Akshay Bhatia.
Rahm, the defending champion, matched his lowest round on the PGA Tour with a 61. He started the third round six shots behind and at one point took a one-shot lead until Finau rallied at the end.
Bhatia also finished with a flourish, hitting his second shot to 8 feet on the par-5 18th hole at Vallarta Vidanta for an eagle and a 63.
Rahm had enough mistakes over the previous two rounds to put himself in a hole. Saturday was not one of those days. He missed only one green and four of his 10 birdies were putts from about 25 feet or longer.
“If I putt as good as I did today, I’ll definitely give myself a chance,” Rahm said.
Finau was at 19-under 194 as he goes for his second victory this season, and his fourth PGA Tour title in the past nine months.
LIV: Sergio Garcia shot a 7-under 64 at Sentosa Golf Club to move into a share of the second-round lead with Talor Gooch at the LIV Singapore tournament. Garcia and Gooch, who birdied his last two holes for a 65, had 36-hole totals of 13-under 129. Gooch won last week’s LIV tournament at Adelaide, Australia, and was the first-round leader by a stroke in Singapore after a 64. Brooks Koepka (65 Saturday) was in third place, a stroke behind Garcia and Gooch. British Open champion Cameron Smith was in a three-way tied for fourth place after a 66 and two behind the leaders.
DP World Tour: Robert MacIntyre held the clubhouse lead when a weather-affected third day of the Korea Championship was suspended because of fading light in Incheon, South Korea. After morning fog and rain caused afternoon tee times to be pushed back by more than two hours, MacIntyre produced a string of good wedge shots in a 3-under 69 amid strong winds at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club. The Scottish player is tied atop the leaderboard on 8 under overall with Pablo Larrazábal.