Associated Press Associated Press ADVERTISING CARMEL, Ind. — The BMW Championship turned into golf’s version of an All-Star game Saturday with Phil Mickelson making 10 birdies to share the lead with Vijay Singh, and a host of other proven players
Associated Press
CARMEL, Ind. — The BMW Championship turned into golf’s version of an All-Star game Saturday with Phil Mickelson making 10 birdies to share the lead with Vijay Singh, and a host of other proven players lined up behind them Saturday at Crooked Stick.
Mickelson shrugged when asked about all the stars on the leaderboard, only because he figured his name wasn’t at the top and there was still work to be done. That was before Singh had his only three-putt of the tournament from about 45 feet on the last hole that made him settle for a 69.
They were at 16-under 200 going into a final round loaded with possibilities.
Rory McIlroy, going for his second straight FedEx Cup playoff win and his PGA Tour-leading fourth of the year, birdied the 18th to salvage an ordinary day with a 69. He was one shot behind with Lee Westwood, a former world No. 1 who made all five of his birdies on the back nine for a 68.
Dustin Johnson, who has finished no worse than fourth in the other two playoff events, had a 67 and was in the group two shots behind that included Adam Scott and Robert Garrigus, who is trying to play his way into the FedEx Cup finale at East Lake in two weeks.
Not to be forgotten is Tiger Woods, who turned his sloppy play around by chipping in from 25 feet on the ninth hole that began a run of four birdies in a five-hole stretch. He had to settle for a 71, ending his streak of six straight rounds in the 60s.
Woods was only three shots behind.
Westwood is playing these FedEx Cup playoffs for the first time, and already he found out what he was missing. Put some of the world’s best players together, and it’s not unusual to see them all at a high level.
“The cream has risen to the top, hasn’t it?” Westwood said.
This follows the Deutsche Bank Championship in which McIlroy held off Louis Oosthuizen, Woods, Mickelson and Johnson. The opening week at The Barclays featured Nick Watney beating Ryder Cup pick Brandt Snedeker, Johnson and Sergio Garcia.
KINGSMILL
CHAMPIONSHIP
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Paula Creamer moved into position to end a two-year victory drought, shooting a 6-under 65 to take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the Kingsmill Championship.
The nine-time LPGA Tour winner chipped in for birdie on the par-4 13th in her bogey-free round on Kingsmill’s River Course. She had a 16-under 197 total, the lowest 54-hole score in the history of the event.
Second-round leader Jiyai Shin was second after a 69. She also is winless since 2010.
Dewi Claire Schreefel and Danielle Kang were 12 under. Schreefel had a 69, and Kang shot 70.
Second-ranked Staci Lewis was 11 under along with Ai Miyazato and Azahara Munoz. Lewis shot a 68, Miyazato had a 67, and Munoz a 69. Lewis and Miyazato each have two victories this year, and Munoz also has won.
KLM OPEN
HILVERSUM, Netherlands — England’s Graeme Storm blew a five-stroke lead midway through the third round and dropped into a four-way tie for the KLM Open lead.
Storm finished with a 1-under 69 to match Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Scotland’s and Scott Jamieson at 12 under. Larrazabal had a 64, and Fernandez-Castano and Jamieson shot 66.
