Sweden’s Fredrik Jacobson rolled in a birdie putt on 18 to finish with a seven-under 63 on Saturday and take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the PGA Travelers Championship.
Jacobson sank a 31-foot putt on 18 to post his third straight -bogey-free round at the US$6 million tournament on the River Highlands course.
Bryce Molder had dropped a 38-foot birdie putt on 17 to move into a tie with Jacobson.
Molder shot a third round six-under 64 on Saturday to finish at 15-under 195.
Jacobson is seeking his first win on the USPGA Tour after posting three victories in Europe. American Molder is chasing his first PGA victory.
At 194, Jacobson was a stroke off the tournament record for 54 holes.
“It obviously takes some good par putts every now and then to keep a round like that going,” he said. “It’s nothing in particular I’ve been focusing on, but it just turned out that way.”
Jacobson said the soft greens, after two days of rain, helped his putt on 18.
“I was kind of hoping it was going to hit the hole and kind of lipped a little bit past it if anything,” he said.
“But I was certainly happy when it hit the hole,” he added.
Jacobson is seeking to become the first player since Lee Trevino 37 years ago to play 72 holes without a bogey.
“I don’t think I’ve played in the last group on a Sunday,” he said. “I think I’ve been kind of within reasonable reach, but been looking forward to getting myself in position where I can get tested, put myself in that position.”
American Amateur Patrick Cantlay had the lead after two rounds, but the 19-year-old bogeyed his final two holes on Saturday. He dropped to 199 and sits tied for 10th place.
An amateur hasn’t won a PGA Tour event since Phil Mickelson in the 1991 Northern Telecom Open in Arizona.
James Driscoll of the US posted a 64 and is alone in third at 197.
World No. 15 Nick Watney (68) headlines a group of half a dozen players tied for fourth, including Argentina’s Andreas Romero.
Molder, who tied for sixth at Pebble Beach earlier this year, has made the cut in six of 17 tournaments.
He had to play nine holes of his second round early on Saturday and finished with a 66 before starting the third-round.
One of his best shots of the day was a tricky 38-foot putt he rolled in on 17 for a birdie.
“You’re just trying to get it close and what do you know, the hole gets in the way,” he said.
Defending champion Bubba Watson, an American, struggled to a 70 and dropped 10 shots behind Jacobson.
“I don’t know if you’ve ever checked the record books, but no one has ever won every tournament,” he said. “I’m not making the putts. I’m not hitting good iron shots when I need them.”
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
A soccer jersey carrying a national map including disputed Western Sahara has become a hot commodity in Morocco after a diplomatic dispute with Algeria. Retailers said RS Berkane jerseys have been flying off the shelves after a Confederation of African Football (CAF) Cup match against Algerian club USM Alger was canceled last month over the jerseys. “We are overwhelmed by the influx of messages and requests,” said Brahim Rabii, representative of the official RS Berkane jersey distributor. Algeria broke off diplomatic relations with Morocco in 2021, partly over the issue of Western Sahara. The former Spanish colony is largely controlled by Morocco, but claimed
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just