England’s Justin Rose roared home with four birdies in his last six holes to fire a bogey-free 63 to grab a share of the lead after the third round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
Rose is tied with second-round leader Jim Furyk of the US through 54 holes at nine-under 201 at the Firestone Country Club course.
Rose, the 2013 US Open champion, whose only title in the World Golf Championships came in the 2012 WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral, capped his seven-under 63 round on Saturday with a long birdie putt on the final hole.
“I went out there today with the mindset of making some birdies right from the beginning and it got me right back into the tournament,” Rose said.
Rose tied for fourth at last year’s WGC-Bridgestone tournament.
Furyk, who has finished second twice among nine top-10 finishes in Bridgestone without winning, sank a par putt on the 18th hole to finish with a 69 and keep a share of the lead.
Shane Lowry of Ireland carded a 67 and was two shots back in third. Steven Bowditch of Australia matched Rose’s 63, taking his only bogey on the 13th hole, and was four strokes behind in a tie for fourth with Bubba Watson (69), England’s Ian Poulter (65) and Swede Henrik Stenson (68).
Brooks Koepka and Robert Streb, who both fired 68, were tied for eighth with Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell.
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