Stenson leads Fowler by one
Hoffman collapses with 5 bogeys in 7 holes for 5-over 76.
Coming off a runner-up finish in the opening FedEx Cup playoff event last week, Henrik Stenson erased a fifive -shot deficit in seven holes Sunday and played bogey-free for a 6-under 65 at the Deutsche Bank Championship at Norton, Mass.
His only birdie on the back nine was a two-putt on the par-5 18th that gave him a one- shot lead over Rickie Fowler.
Stenson was an afterthought at the majors this year, where he finished at least 10 shots behind the leaders in all four of them. Picking up a $10 million bonus from the FedEx Cup wouldn’t be a bad consolation, and the Swede suddenly is trending in that direction.
“It’s a good time to start playing well,” said Stenson, who was at 13-under 200. “It’s a big event and lots to play for. I’m happy with the progress I made and it gave me a little bit of a confifidence boost last week that I had a nice tournament. I hope I can have another one here (Monday).”
Fowler had a 67, missing out on a chance to share the lead when his 5-iron into the 18th green was too strong and he had to scramble to salvage a par.
Sean O’Hair (67) and Matt Jones (68) were two shots behind.
They all took advantage of a collapse by Charley Hoffman, who blazed his way to victory at the TPC Boston fifive years ago. After opening with a birdie, Hoffman put his second shot into the hazard at the par-5 second hole and made bogey, and it slipped away from there. He shot 41 on front, had fifive bogeys in a seven- hole stretch and didn’t make another birdie until his fifinal hole for a 76.
Jordan Spieth was headed for a return to No. 1, but he’s not even here after missing his second straight cut.
European Tour: Englishman Lee Slattery bounced back from an erratic start to shoot a 2-under 69 that was enough for a one- shot victory at the Russian Open in Moscow.
Slattery finished with a 15-under total of 269 as he secured his second career European Tour win, and first since 2011.
Argentina’s Estanislao Goya was second after a 68, with defending champion David Horsey (68) another shot back in third.