Two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen fired a two-under 69 on Saturday to stretch his lead to two strokes going into the final round of the Northern Trust Open.
Goosen survived some shaky moments at the Riviera Country Club with two late birdies helping him to a 54-hole total of eight-under 205 and a two-stroke lead over Canadian Graham DeLaet.
DeLaet, who started the day tied for second one stroke adrift, carded a one-under 70 for 207.
Photo: AFP
On a crowded leaderboard, Bae Sang-moon of South Korea headed a group on 208 after an impressive bogey-free five-under 66.
He was joined at five-under by Sergio Garcia of Spain, who carded an adventurous 68, 23-year-old Mexican Carlos Ortiz (68) and American J.B. Holmes (69).
Eight players shared seventh on four-under 209, including former world No. 1 Vijay Singh.
Other former major winners joining Singh on four-under were reigning US Masters champion and defending Northern Trust Open champion Bubba Watson, Angel Cabrera of Argentina and American Jim Furyk.
Americans Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, James Hahn and Ryan Moore were also on 209.
Goosen is more than a decade removed from his second US Open triumph in 2004, and has not won a US PGA Tour event since 2009.
The 46-year-old, who had back surgery in 2012, on Friday said that he was not sure how his game would hold up.
However, he stretched his lead to three strokes when he rolled in a 35-foot putt on the eighth hole for his third birdie of the day.
That lead then dwindled on the back nine as his struggles off the tee caught up with him on the firm, unforgiving course.
“The first nine was really putting, a lot of good recovery putts,” Goosen said. “I didn’t hit the ball that great on the back nine, especially my driver, and I put myself in a few bad places.”
From the 10th hole through the 15th, Goosen had four bogeys and one birdie, and just one par.
A 35-foot chip-in for birdie on the par-three 16th was a needed boost and he picked up another stroke with a birdie at the par-five 17th.
“It wasn’t easy out there for me,” Goosen said. “Mentally-wise, I had to work hard to try and stay positive and focused. But I’m still in the lead, so that’s a good place to be.”
DeLaet, seeking his first US PGA Tour victory, opened with an eagle and added three birdies, but four bogeys ensured he never got his nose in front of Goosen.
“I’m happy shooting under-par,” DeLaet said. “It’s a tough golf course. It’s just so demanding and tests your patience.”
Among the group tied for third, Bae is seeking his second win of the current campaign after his victory in the season-opening Frys.com Open in October last year.
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