McIlroy, Kuchar, Scott share lead
Rory McIlroy returned to No. 1 in the world for the first time in more than four years and is playing like he wants to stay there for a while.
McIlroy had a 3-under 68 on Saturday at Riviera and shared the 54-hole lead with Matt Kuchar and Adam Scott going into the final round at the Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles.
Riviera is a thorough test, and the greens are difficult enough that no one could run away with it. Tiger Woods managed to run the other direction with a 76 that left him 15 shots behind.
Kuchar had a two-shot lead at the start of the gorgeous day and kept there with three birdies and no bogeys through 12 holes. But he started to miss short putts, made three bogeys in a fourhole stretch and had to rally with a birdie on the 17th to regain a share of the lead with a 70.
Scott holed a 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th for a 67 that gives him a great chance to start his new year off with a win.
They were at at 10-under-par 203, and the final round figured to be wide open.
Sixteen players were separated by four shots.
“I think you just have to worry about yourself, concentrate on what you’re doing, do it well, set yourself a target, don’t think about anyone else,” McIlroy said. “And you know, if that’s good enough at the end of the day, then great. If not, then someone just played better than you and hats off to them.”
Madison’s Steve Stricker is tied for 57th at 1-over.
PGA Champions: Stephen Leaney leads after Saturday’s second round at the Chubb Classic, and Fred Funk is two shots back in Naples, Florida, as he attempts to become the oldest competitor to win a PGA Tour Champions event.
Leaney made an eagle on the 17th hole and has posted consecutive rounds of 65, putting him one shot ahead of Bernhard Langer and two clear of Funk, Chris DiMarco and Fred Couples.
Leaney’s 130-shot total is his best 36-hole score at a PGA-sanctioned competition. His last pro win was at the 2017 Western Australian Open, and his only appearance in a Sunday final group on the PGA Tour was at the 2003 U.S. Open, when he started three shots behind eventual champion Jim Furyk.
At 63 years, eight months and two days old, Funk would be the oldest winner on the tour.
Madison’s Jerry Kelly is tied for 27th after shooting 1-under.
LPGA: Inbee Park took a three-stroke lead at the Women’s Australian Open after a 5-under 68, including a 40-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole in Adelaide, Australia. She had a 54-hole total of 15under 204.
Fellow South Korean Ayean Cho shot 69 and was alone in second. American Marina Alex was in third at 11-under after a 70.