Rahm slips out of Scottish lead
Furyk nears his first senior major crown
NORTH BERWICK, Scotland — Thomas Detry and Matt Fitzpatrick took alternative routes to a tie for the third-round lead at the Scottish Open on Saturday.
Surrounded by vacated and scattered bar benches beside a grandstand at the back of the 17th green, Detry somehow got up and down for one of eight straight pars coming home in a 3-under 68 at The Renaissance Club.
“It was nice to hear the crowds and to see some beer flying around after that shot,” said Detry, who is seeking his first European Tour title.
Joining the Belgian on 14 under overall for the tournament was Fitzpatrick, whose own lucky break came at the par-3 14th when he overhit his tee shot — only to see the ball ricochet off a stone wall and back onto the green. He missed the short birdie putt but picked up two shots in his final three holes for a 67.
They were a stroke clear of topranked Jon Rahm, who dropped out of a three-way tie for the lead by missing a par putt from inside two feet at the par-5 No. 16. The U.S. Open champion crouched down and stared at the ball, not quite believing what happened.
Rahm, who started the third round in a share of the lead, rebounded from opening with two bogeys in his first three holes by making five birdies in an eight-hole span from No. 6. He shot 69.
PGA: In Silvis, Ill., Sebastian Munoz of Colombia had a 4-under 67 for a one-shot lead going into the final round of the John Deere Classic that feels as though it’s just getting started. Rain overnight and more during the third round left the TPC John Deere soft and prone to low scoring, and just about everyone took advantage.
Munoz overcame two early bogeys by keeping a clean card on the back nine. He took the lead with a tee shot into 6 feet on the par-3 16th hole and was at 16-under 197.
He led by one shot over Brandon Hagy, who is still looking for his first PGA Tour victory in his 93rd career start. Hagy also had a 67.
Five players were two shots behind, a group that included Scott Brown, who had a 63 to match the low score of the round. Adam Long (64), Cameron Champ (64), Kevin Na (66) and Ryan Moore (68) joined him at 14-under 199.
PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS: In Omaha, Neb., Jim Furyk overcame a mid-round lull following the second of two weather delays and moved closer to winning his first senior major title. The 51-year-old took a four-shot lead into the final round of the U.S. Senior Open after shooting a 4-under 66 on Saturday to get to 8-under 202 at Omaha Country Club.
First-round co-leader Stephen Ames birdied three of the last five holes for a 68, bouncing back from a 73 on Friday, and will be paired with Furyk on Sunday. Retief Goosen closed with two birdies, shot 66 and was alone at 3 under.
The biggest mover was Steve Flesch. The part-time television analyst shot the best round of the day with a 64 and was at 2 under.
Tee times were pushed back three hours after an overnight storm with straight-line wind of 90 mph knocked over camera towers and downed trees.
TAHOE CELEBRITY: In South Lake Tahoe, Nevada, Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz eagled the par5 18th hole Saturday to take a twopoint lead over Vinny Del Negro into the final round of the American Century Championship.
Smoltz had a 26-point round at Edgewood Tahoe in the modified Stableford scoring event for a twoday total of 51. Del Negro, a former NBA player and coach, also scored 26 points. In traditional scoring, Smoltz and Del Negro each shot 2-under 70.
“I make no bones about it. I want to win this tournament probably more than anybody,” Smoltz said. “That’s probably why I haven’t won it.”
Two-time winner Jack Wagner was third at 47 after a 23-point day. Former LPGA Tour star Annika Sorenstam was another point back.
Two-time winner Tony Romo was fifth with 42, and defending champion Mardy Fish matched Stephen Curry at 39.
Charles Barkley was tied for 77th in the 88-player field at minus-21. Al Michaels was last at minus-59.
LPGA: In Sylvania, Ohio, Nasa Hataoka opened a six-stroke lead in the Marathon LPGA Classic, birdieing four of the last five holes for a 7-under 64. Hataoka has led wireto-wire at Highland Meadows to put herself in position for her fourth Tour victory.