Smith shoots 60 for course record
JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith were tied for the lead Saturday in The Northern Trust, and neither could have imagined how they got there.
Smith had never shot better than 62 — twice this year on the PGA Tour, once at his home club in Brisbane, Australia — when he stood over a 12-foot putt on the 18th hole at Liberty National for a chance at the 13th sub-60 round on the PGA Tour.
He missed and had to settle for the course record at 11-under 60, and figured that would at least keep him in range of the world’s No. 1 player.
“Jon is playing some pretty good at the minute, so we’ve got to try to catch up,” Smith said.
Austin out front at Boeing Classic
Woody Austin birdied the par-5 18th on Saturday for a 4-under 68 and a one-stroke lead over Jim Furyk and Colin Montgomerie in the PGA Tour Champions’ Boeing Classic.
The 57-year-old Austin had three straight birdies on Nos. 13-15. He has four senior victories after also winning four PGA Tour titles.
Two share lead in Carnoustie
Anna Nordqvist and Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Scandinavians with contrasting resumes in golf, share the lead heading into the final round of the Women’s British Open.
A bunched-up chasing pack, containing Nelly Korda and Lexi Thompson, promises to make it a Sunday to remember at Carnoustie, Scotland.
Pulkkanen seizes 2-shot advantage
Tapio Pulkkanen will take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the Czech Masters after a 6-under 66.
Three shots off the lead after the second round, the 31-year-old Finn did not drop a shot in the third round until the par-4 17th. He bounced back with his seventh birdie on No. 18 at the Albatross Golf Resort for a 13-under 203 total.
It’s the first lead for Pulkkanen after the third round in his career.