Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama moved into a four-way share of the lead at the Crowne Plaza Invitational in Texas on Saturday, setting up what promises to be a wild final round with 36 players jammed within four strokes.
Matsuyama carded a bogey-free six-under 64 to join Americans David Toms (65), Chad Campbell (68) and Chris Stroud (69) at seven-under 203.
American Kevin Chappell shot 63, the low round of the week, to join a group of six one stroke behind, while newly crowned world No. 1 Adam Scott (66) is among another group of seven only two strokes back.
However, so many players are in striking distance that the only thing that can be stated with confidence is that the winner would have to go low yesterday.
Chappell had visions of shooting the magical 59 when he holed a bunker shot for eagle at the par-five 11th to go eight-under on the day.
He needed to pick up three more shots to break 60, but a bogey at the 14th hole brought him back to reality. Still, he had no complaints.
“I had to make a five-footer [on Friday] to make the cut and to then shoot seven-under, I couldn’t ask for more,” Chappell told PGATour.com. “I used up a lot of luck today. I had two chip-ins and made some long putts. A 59 would have been nice, but I lost the feel with the putter on the back nine.”
World No. 26 Matsuyama has been quiet the past couple of months due partly to a finger and wrist injury, but he is now healthy again it was only time before he would regain form.
Toms, the 2011 champion, enjoyed a good day on one of his favorite courses.
“I didn’t get off to a very good start on Thursday, but I’ve come back with two solid rounds to give myself a chance,” the 13-time PGA Tour winner said. “I like the course. I knocked a couple really close in the middle of my round and just played solid from there on in.”
Halfway leader Brice Garnett shot a dismal 74 to fall into a tie for 25th, but nonetheless ended the day only four strokes off the pace.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was