Briny Baird, tied for lead, seeking PGA Tour victory after 364 attempts.
Making par from a tough lie in the bunker saved Briny Baird’s round. Closing with three consecutive birdies gave him a share of the lead. None of that will make today any easier for a 41-year-old who has never won in 364 tries on the PGA Tour. Baird and Chris Kirk each made birdie on the final hole Saturday to separate themselves — but not by much — in the McGladrey Classic at St. Simons Island, Ga. They were one shot clear of three others, with a dozen players separated by 12 shots going into the final round at Sea Island. Kirk and Baird were at 10-under 200. They were one shot ahead of Brian Gay (66), Kevin Stadler (65) and John Senden (68). Twelve players were separated by four shots going into today, a group that includes Sea Island resident Matt Kuchar and Webb Simpson, the former U.S. Open champion who won last month in Las Vegas. Baird has been a runner-up five times in his PGA Tour, the last chance two years ago in the Frys.com Open when he had a two-shot lead going into the final round and wound up losing a six-hole playoff to Bryce Molder (Conway).
Victor Dubuisson of France opened up a five-shot lead after the third round at the Turkish Airlines Open on Saturday, while Tiger Woods kept himself in the mix despite three bogeys on the back nine. Dubuisson opened with four consecutive birdies and added five more in a bogey-free 9-under 63. He moved to 21-under 195 to distance himself from the field. Ian Poulter was alone in second after a 68, while Woods and Henrik Stensson (69) were among four players sitting another shot back. Woods had an eventful round and hurt his right hand when his club hit a tree on the 11th hole, but he seemed to escape without a serious injury. Woods made three birdies on the front nine, then mixed three more birdies with three bogeys in a six-hole stretch starting at the 11th. He finished with an improbable birdie on No. 18 for a 68.
Yuki Ichinose of Japan shot a 6-under 66 to finish in a threeway tie for the lead after the second round of the Mizuno Classic on Saturday at Shima, Japan. Ichinose carded seven birdies against a lone bogey at Kintetsu Kashikojima to finish at 8-under 136 with compatriots Mamiko Higa, who also shot a 66, and overnight leader Shiho Oyama (68). American Brittany Lincicome shot a 68 and is one stroke off the pace with Japan’s Ayako Fujimoto (67). Defending champion Stacy
Lewis (Arkansas Razorbacks), who erased a seven-stroke deficit last year, shot a 68 and is tied for 10th at 139. The American is the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 3. South Korean star Inbee
Park, who leads the money list and player of the year rankings, is sitting out the tournament.