Werenski surges into tie atop 3M

Three birdies in last 4 holes helps him catch Thompson

BLAINE, Minn. — Michael Thompson hasn‘t experienced the anxiety and thrill of playing the last round of a tournament in the final group for several years.

This time, pitted against Richy Werenski in the 3M Open, he'll do so without the murmuring, clapping and roaring sounds from the spectators. For Thompson, that'll do just fine.

“It kind of allows me to keep my emotions even keel. That's kind of the way I play golf. That's what I like to do on the golf course,” Thompson said. “I don't talk very much, and sometimes if I get too riled up or faced with a hard shot in front of a lot of people, I get a little nervous.”

Werenski birdied three of the last four holes Saturday to erase a four-stroke deficit and catch Thompson for the lead. After sharing the halfway lead, Thompson and Werenski traveled vastly different paths to each shoot 3under 68. They walked together to the clubhouse even again, tied at 15 under at the TPC Twin Cities.

“There's still a lot of golf left. I just kind of want to keep hanging around, and hopefully something happens,” Werenski said.

Charl Schwartzel shot a 66 in the third round, pulling even with Tony Finau for third place at 13 under. Max Homa posted a 64, making a big jump to fifth at 12 under.

Thompson, who entered the week well below the cut for the FedEx Cup Playoffs in 151st place, made three straight birdies on the front nine of his 228th career start. The 35-year-old, whose only tour win was at the Honda Classic in Florida in 2013, knocked in another one on the 590-yard, par-5 12th hole to move to 16 under.

Thompson held a fourstroke lead until the 15th, when his game on the greens suddenly faltered. His 8-foot putt for birdie went long, and he settled for par.

Werenski, who was one spot off the FedEx Cup cut last season and came to Minnesota in 89th place, birdied the 15th hole to move up. So did their playing partner Finau, making up for three earlier bogeys.

Thompson rolled a 15footer too long on the 17th green, too, taking just his second bogey of the entire tournament as a light rain began to fall on another muggy and breezy afternoon in this suburb north of Minneapolis as the heat index reached the upper 90s

Werenski, whose 63 in the first round is tied for the low score of the tournament, birdied that hole. That set up their Sunday duel with a handful of competitors well within striking distance.

That includes Schwartzel, the 35-yearold South African who has two career tour victories. He just missed an eagle on the 18th, when his 70-foot shot from the bunker almost dropped in.