Scott, Garcia break from the pack
The two surge to share a 4-shot lead at 9-under as course plays tougher
PALM BEACH GARDENS — Even under relatively benign golfing conditions, the Champion course at PGA National Resort & Spa took its toll on those at the top of the leaderboard at the Honda Classic.
Adam Scott and Sergio Garcia were tied for the lead at 9-under-par 201 heading into today’s final round, but both men, who played together Saturday, couldn’t help but think what might have been if not for a couple of mistakes.
Scott, who began the day in fourth place, had seven birdies through his first 13 holes and a three-shot lead until he hit two balls in the water at the par-3 15th hole and took a quadruple-bogey 7. He ended up shooting a 4-under 66, but said it was disappointing not to have shot a 62.
“I guess that’s why they call it the Bear Trap,” said Scott of holes
15, 16 and 17. “It got me good today but fortunately I’m playing good enough that I’ve still got a share of the lead, which is a great position to be in going into tomorrow.”
Garcia, who shot 67, started the day in third place and made four birdies on the front nine to get to 10 under and take the lead. Although he threeputted the 13th from 30 feet for bogey, he took a one-shot lead over Scott after the Australian’s quad on 15.
“I wasn’t expecting it, and even less to go from being three back to being one in front,” Garcia said. “It can happen to anyone. You don’t need to hit that bad a shot to make a 7 like he did.”
Scott regained the lead when he birdied 17 and his playing partner bogeyed it, but Garcia came back with a birdie at 18 to tie.
“I was just trying to make sure to stay with him again, stay patient and still have a shot at tomorrow,” said Garcia, who tees off with Scott in the final pairing at 1:40 p.m.
Blayne Barber shot 69 and was alone in third at 5-under 205.
“It’s playing like a major championship golf course,” said Barber, who finished 58th here last year. “Par is a good score, which is nice, because I feel a lot of weeks you have to shoot a lot under par, keep pace. There’s a value in hitting the middle of the green, two-putting and taking your chances when you get them.”
Second-round leader Rickie Fowler shot 74 to drop into a tie for fourth at 205 with Justin Thomas, who shot 68.
Fowler, who hadn’t made a bogey over his first 36 holes, had four bogeys Saturday and no birdies.
“It’s a fine line out there, especially at this course,” Fowler said. “You could shoot 4 over a lot quicker than you can shoot 4 under.”
Thomas birdied the first three holes, but couldn’t sustain that momentum.
“Obviously the start was ideal,” he said. “I really could have gotten a couple more, so that was a bummer, but I’m not worried about it. You’re not losing ground with pars.”
Jimmy Walker, who started the round a shot behind Fowler, briefly had the lead after a birdie at the third hole, but that was fol- lowed by four bogeys and three double-bogeys for a 79.
Vijay Singh was 5 under for the day and 6 under for the tournament through 14 holes before dropping three shots at 15 and 17 to end up tied for sixth at 207 with Graeme McDowell, who shot 67, and Scott Brown, who shot 70.
After watching Garcia make three straight birdies on the front, Scott, who birdied the third hole, caught fire with birdies at holes 6 through 9 to tie the Spaniard.
Scott said it helped that the wind was not as blustery as the first two days, which made for better scoring conditions.
“I think they might have been slightly easier,” Scott said. “The wind was in a slightly different direction today, and probably not blowing quite as hard. It made maybe for a few more crosswind shots, but the strength of the wind wasn’t severely affecting the flight of the golf ball. The first couple of days, I felt I played in some pretty strong winds and that was quite tough.
“It doesn’t matter. This course is always a challenge.”