Even after winning three times in the past 15 months, Bubba Watson still gets nervous going into the final round with a chance to win. At least he has some company at the Deutsche Bank Championship.
A lot of company.
Just when Watson looked as though he might pull away Sunday at the TPC Boston in Norton, Mass., the wind became strong enough to make him think twice about the shots he wanted to hit. Three of them didn’t turn out real well and led to bogeys.
He at least managed one more birdie for a 1-under 70 and the lead going into today’s last round.
Watson was one shot ahead of five players. Another five players were two shots behind. Seven other players were three shots behind, including Puyallup’s Ryan Moore. And even Phil Mickelson, who started the round 11 shots behind, suddenly was only four back.
“Anybody has a chance,” Watson said.
Watson likes his chances just a little bit better. Despite the wind causing some indecision on the back nine, he rifled a 3-iron into the fairway and a wedge to 8 feet for birdie on the 17th to get some separation, though just a single shot.
The Labor Day finish figures to be wide open. Six years ago, there was a five-way tie for the lead going into the final round.
Adam Scott (71) and Jason Day (67) were among those tied for second.
“It’s not even that there’s so many guys,” said Brendan Steele, also tied for second. “It’s who the guys are, too. There’s a lot of talent there. Somebody is going to have to definitely go and take this tournament. It’s not going to be given to them.”
The winner is assured a spot in the Tour Championship from Sept. 22-25.
ELSEWHERE
Thomas Bjorn won the European Masters in Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland, closing with a 9-under 62 for a four-stroke victory over Germany’s Martin Kaymer. … England’s Gary Christian won the Nationwide Tour’s Mylan Classic in Canonsburg, Pa., shooting a 4-under 67 for a one-stroke victory over John Mallinger.
TRACKING LOCALS ON THE PGA TOUR
This week: The Deutsche Bank Championship, through today, TPC Boston, Norton, Mass. – the second leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs.
In the field: Puyallup’s Ryan Moore and Gig Harbor’s Kyle Stanley.
Stanley’s third-round score: 3-under-par 68.
Moore’s third-round score: 2-under 69.
Position: Moore (8-under 205) is tied for 12th, and Stanley (6-under 207) is tied for 24th – all trailing leader Bubba Watson.
Recap: Stanley finally made a few birdies without follow-up bogeys Sunday. His 4-iron tee shot to 7 feet at the par-3 eighth started it, and he made the birdie putt. On the back nine, he rolled in birdie putts of 13 feet at Nos. 12 and 15. … Two of Moore’s birdies came on par-5 holes – at the sixth (35-yard wedge to 9 feet) and 18th holes (30-yard wedge to 6 feet).
Tee times today: Stanley tees off at 8:45 a.m. (PDT) with Bo Van Pelt; Moore tees off at 9:35 a.m. with Nick Watney.
Todd Milles, staff writer
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