Stenson leads at Bay Hill; Tiger 5 shots back
ORLANDO, Fla. — Henrik Stenson did just enough right and was happy enough to take a one-stroke lead in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, even if he wishes it could have been more.
Stenson missed a short birdie putt and a 12-foot eagle attempt on the back nine Saturday, had his tee shot knocked down by a gust of wind that led to bogey and closed out a 1-under-par 71 to go into the final round with another chance to win at Bay Hill.
“I was looking for a little better,” Stenson said. “But I’m still in the lead.”
Bryson DeChambeau also missed his share of chances in a round of 72 and was one shot behind.
More troublesome was the number of players who are still very much in range, and one of them could be Tiger Woods.
Rory McIlroy made eagle on No. 12 and birdied two of his last three holes and was two shots behind. He will be in the penultimate group with Justin Rose, who shot a 67 while playing in the same group with Woods and the massive crowd and wound up three shots behind. Ryan Moore (67) also was three back.
Woods made another bold play on the par-5 16th, this time with his ball near the lip of a bunker. Instead of pitching out to the fairway, he hit a shot over the trees and the water that set up a two-putt birdie, and he hit sand wedge into the 18th for a 12-foot birdie putt and a 69.
Woods was five shots behind. In other golf news: • Inbee Park played the first five holes in 6 under and finished with a 9-under 63 to take the lead into the final round of the LPGA Tour’s Founders Cup. Park holed out from 90 yards for eagle on the par-4 third to highlight the early run at Desert Ridge in Phoenix. Park reached 14 under to take a one-stroke lead over Mariajo Uribe (67). Hall of Famer Laura Davies matched Park with a 63 at age 54 to move into a tie for fourth at 11 under.