Unlike many players, Lucas Glover admits he keeps a close eye on the leaderboard.
“I definitely look at them. I like to know where I stand and what I’ve got to do,” Glover said Saturday after he did enough – shooting a 7-under-par 65 – to catch Justin Rose after four rounds of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in the Palm Springs area of California.
Glover overcame a five-stroke deficit to join Rose at the front heading into the final day of the 90-hole tournament.
The 27-year-old Glover, a former Clemson star who has steadily moved up the ranks on the tour, matched Rose at 20 under, sticking his irons close to the pin on most greens at La Quinta and making a couple of 25-foot putts on others.
Rose, the 26-year-old Englishman who also appears to be a player on the rise, shot a 70 at The Classic Club, in Thousand Palms, Calif., where the final round will be played today.
“I kept my nose in and around the lead, so obviously that’s a good thing going into tomorrow,” he said. “I guess what’s gone on before now is all history and we’ve got to look forward to tomorrow.”
His 70 followed a third round when he had taken a two-shot lead with a 66 on a gloomy, cold and windy day.
Glover is shooting for his second PGA Tour victory. He won the Funai Classic in 2005. Rose is looking for his first on the tour, with his highest finish so far a tie for second last year in the Texas Open.
Glover, however, noted that Rose is coming off a win in the Australian Masters.
“Sure, the last event I played, I won, other than this one,” Rose said.
John Rollins was two shots back after a 67, and Jeff Quinney (66) and Charley Hoffman (68) were tied for fourth at 16 under.
Phil Mickelson, the champion in 2002 and 2004, had nine birdies on his way to a 66 and a 13-under total. He’s making his first start of the year.
Four courses were used for the first four days, a pro-am. The field was reduced to the low 70 pros and ties for the final round.
Defending champion Chad Campbell missed the cut after a 72. Last week’s winner in Hawaii, Paul Goydos, made the cut on the number at 6-under 282.
Irwin shoots 62
Hale Irwin shot a 10-under 62 to take a three-stroke lead over Tom Kite and Brad Bryant after the second round of the Champions Tour’s season-opening MasterCard Championship at Kaupulehu-Kona, Hawaii.
The 61-year-old Irwin, coming off his first winless season in 12 years, had 10 birdies in his bogey-free round for a 16-under 128 total. He just missed shooting his age when a 12-foot birdie putt on No. 18 came up short and to the right.
Kite shot a 64, and Bryant, the first-round leader, had a 68. Jim Thorpe had a 63 to join defending champion Loren Roberts (67) at 12 under.
Irwin, who has a record 44 wins on the Champions Tour, is seeking his first victory since the SAS Championship in the fall of 2005.
Irwin has owned Hawaii like no other golfer, winning eight times on the senior tour including the 1997 MasterCard, and the 1981 Hawaiian Open on the PGA Tour. He has $3.9 million in winnings, including unofficial money, in the state.
South American women lead
Julieta Granada and Celeste Troche shot a 3-over 75 in windy conditions in alternate-shot play to help Paraguay maintain a four-stroke lead in the Women’s World Cup of Golf in Sun City, South Africa.
Granada and Troche had a 2-under 214 total on the Gary Player Country Club course entering the best-ball finale today.
Italy’s Giulia Sergas and Veronica Zorzi were second after a 73, and Americans Juli Inkster and Pat Hurst (70) were third at 3 over.
Harrington leads in UAE
Ireland’s Padraig Harrington shot a 4-under 68 to take a one-shot lead after the third round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in the United Arab Emirates.
Harrington had a 13-under 203 total. India’s Shiv Kapur (68), Sweden’s Peter Hanson (66) and Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez (68) were tied for second.
Defending champion Chris DiMarco (68) was four strokes back.
TRACKING RYAN Moore
This week: PGA Tour’s Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, which finishes today at The Classic Club in Thousand Palms, Calif.
Fourth-round score: 2-over-par 74 at Bermuda Dunes CC.
Position: Moore’s four-round total of 4-under 284 missed the cut (6-under 286) by two strokes. Justin Rose and Lucas Glover are co-leaders at 20-under 268.
Recap: Just like his start last season, the Puyallup golfer missed the cut in his first event (last year was the Sony Open in Hawaii). Unexpectedly, he played his worst round on the easiest course of the four used for this five-round event. Only five golfers posted rounds over par Saturday at Bermuda Dunes. Moore was on track to make the cut with four holes remaining, but consecutive bogeys from No. 15 through No. 17 cost him.
Next: Buick Invitational, Jan. 25-28, Torrey Pines North and South courses, San Diego, Calif.
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