South Africa’s Retief Goosen, who is looking for his second win of the year, was tied with two Americans for the lead after the third round of the US$7.5 million Deutsche Bank Championship on Sunday.
Goosen shot a three-under 68 to move to 13-under 200 and a share of the overall lead with Steve Stricker (65) and Sean O’Hair (70).
The crowded leaderboard features nine players within three shots of the leaders, including Ireland’s Padraig Harrington (67) and Aussie John Senden (70).
Goosen had a chance to take sole possession of first place, but his approach at the par-five 18 caught the bunker and he had to settle for a par.
Harrington is in a three-way tie at 12-under 201 with Kevin Na (66) and Scott Verplank (68).
Americans Jerry Kelly (67) and Kevin Sutherland (69) are two shots back of the leaders at 11-under 202.
Tiger Woods, frustrated by poor putting, failed to mount a charge by shooting a one-over 72. He is nine shots behind Goosen. Woods, who hit his first tee shot into the trees on Sunday, would fall out of first place in the FedEx Cup standings if Stricker wins the tournament.
■CANADIAN OPEN
AFP, CALGARY, CANADA
Suzann Pettersen captured her first win of the year and her sixth LPGA Tour victory by shooting a one-under 70 in the final round of the Canadian Women’s Open on Sunday.
Norway’s Pettersen finished with a 15-under 269 total to place five strokes ahead of five others, including Japan’s Momoko Ueda (65) and Ai Miyazato (67).
Pettersen, who took home US$412,000 for first place, posted her first win in two years. She had a breakout season in 2007 with five victories.
Her round featured five birdies including three straight to begin the back nine on Sunday. She made bogey on the next two holes before finishing with five consecutive pars.
Ueda mounted a Sunday charge but still finished five shots back of Pettersen.
Taiwan’s Yani Tseng was a distant 16 srokes off the winner after firing a 78 on Sunday.
■EUROPEAN MASTERS
REUTERS, CRANS-SUR-SIERRE, SWITZERLAND
Sweden’s Alex Noren held off a determined challenge from Britain’s former winner Bradley Dredge to claim his maiden title at the European Masters on Sunday.
A closing five-under-par 66 for a 20-under 264 total left Noren two strokes better than 2006 Swiss champion Dredge (65).
Noren earned US$471,000 for his victory and also picked up the maximum 333,330 points in Europe’s first Ryder Cup counting event of a year-long campaign.
“I’ve got to stay there now,” Noren told reporters, “I always thought about playing one day [in the Ryder Cup], but I didn’t know a win would come so soon.”
The win ended a worrying spell for Noren, who has had wrist and knee injuries.
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