Woods on the verge
Tiger Woods never liked tournaments where birdies were required simply to keep up. He managed just fine Saturday at the Tour Championship, where a 6-under-par 64 only allowed him to keep his three-shot margin at the pushover known as East Lake in Atlanta.
Even after a week of low scoring because of soft, slow greens, the third round was mystifying.
“I can’t remember too many golf courses that have been easier than this one,” Woods said.
It was the lowest 54-hole start in Woods career, and it left him poised to win at East Lake for the first time. Woods has never lost a professional tournament when leading by more than one shot going into the final round.
LPGA
The score after Day 2 of the Solheim Cup in Halmstad Sweden: “Chokin’ Dogs” 6 1/2, Europeans 5 1/2.
On a miserable, windblown day in which only half the matches were completed, it was a “choke” comment from former American player Dottie Pepper that made as big a splash as anything her one-time teammates did.
The Americans led 6 1/2-5 1/2, but after they let two victories in the morning matches slip away, Pepper, now an analyst for the Golf Channel, uttered “Chokin’ freakin’ dogs” on the air, mistakingly thinking the network had already gone to commercial.
“I’m too involved with the Solheim Cup to worry about it,” American captain Betsy King said. “Afterward, I’d be happy to comment about it.”
Champion’s Tour
R.W. Eaks broke one tournament record and tied another to take a three-stroke lead over Canada’s Rod Spittle after the second round of the Greater Hickory Classic in Conover, N.C.
Eaks ended a long day at Rock Barn Golf and Spa with a second-round 66 for a 15-under 129, shattering the event record by three strokes and finishing one shot shy of the Champions Tour’s best 36-hole score this season.
Nationwide Tournament
Richard Johnson made three birdies on the back nine and shot a 3-under 69 to take a slim lead heading into the final round of the Nationwide Tour’s Oregon Classic in Junction City, Ore. Alex Prugh (University of Washington/Ferris High) shot a 3-over 75, and is tied for 60th heading into today’s action.