Kaymer pads lead at Memorial

UNLV's Scott two back after second straight 66

DUBLIN, Ohio — Martin Kaymer didn’t look the part of someone who hasn’t won in five years. He was bogey-free Saturday in the Memorial for a 6-under-par 66 that gave him a two-shot lead over UNLV product Adam Scott going into the final round.

Scott also had a 66, finishing with a shot into 3 feet on the 18th hole at Muirfield Village.

They will be in the final group at Muirfield Village, two major champions who reached No. 1 in the world and are in the midst of a drought. Scott has gone more than three years since his last victory during the Florida swing.

And they have company. Hideki Matsuyama, who reached as high as No. 2 in the world, has gone nearly two years without winning. He had 64 and was four shots behind, along with Jordan Spieth (69), another former No. 1 player whose last victory was the 2017 British Open. ▶

Joining them was Patrick Cantlay (68), who had a two-shot lead going into the final round at the Memorial last year until the birdies stopped falling.

Kaymer was at 15-under 201, mildly surprised but not the least bit stressed about trying to win for the first time since the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2.

“We can all play good golf, and it’s quite nice for tomorrow because no one is really holding back,” Kaymer said.

Kaymer was on the verge of falling out of the top 200 in the world ranking until a tie for eighth in the British Masters last month. His road back began with an emphasis on the short game, and it paid off in a big way on a course that slowly is getting faster.

Scott had only one blemish on the ninth hole and did enough right to pile up birdies on the par 5s and a few other holes that he’s in a spot to win again.

“I’m just going to play as good as I can tomorrow,” Scott said. “I like where it’s all at. I feel like the last few times I’ve been in with a chance, going back to the PGA Championship last year, I felt comfortable. So I’m not worried. I feel like this is the spot I’m meant to be.”

Tiger Woods also started strong by holing a bunker shot, nearly holing another and making the turn in 32. But, on the 10th, his fairway bunker shot didn’t get out and came back in his footprint, leading to a double bogey.

That slowed momentum, and Woods finished with a bogey for a 70 that left him 11 shots out of the lead.

■ At Charleston, S.C., former Duke championship teammates Yu Liu of China and Celine Boutier of France were tied for a one-stroke lead after three rounds of the U.S. Women’s Open. Liu (66) and Boutier (69) were starters on the Blue Devils’ 2014 NCAA title team. Lexi Thompson (68), Jaye Marie Green (68) and surprise second-round leader Mamiko Higa (71) were tied for second.

■ At Des Moines, Iowa, Scott Parel shot a 6-under 66 to extend his Principal Charity Classic lead to five strokes. At 15-under 129, Parel broke the tournament’s 36-hole record of 13 under set last year by eventual winner Tom Lehman. Marco Dawson (65) and Jerry Kelly (67) were 10 under.

USGA: Champions:

Adam Scott