Detroit News wire services
Now it’s about finishing the task for Gary Woodland in the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
He shot 5-under-par 65 on Saturday to maintain the lead through three rounds as he seeks his first victory in nearly seven years in Houston.
“I’m here, I put myself in this position for a reason, so take a deep breath and maintain what I’m doing,” Woodland said.
Woodland is at 18-under despite his highest score of the tournament Saturday.
Hard-charging Nicolai Hojgaard of Denmark posted the best round of the day with a 63, so he’s one stroke back going into Sunday’s final round at Memorial Park Golf Course.
“There’s still a lot of players in the field that can win the tournament,” Hojgaard said. “But, obviously, Gary and I have a good chance. I’m going to go out, try to build up the round like I did today.”
Hojgaard has never won on the PGA Tour in 62 previous tournaments. His last international tournament title came in 2023.
Woodland tied for second place in the tournament a year ago. The galleries have been supportive this week, and he has noticed.
“Crowd (has) been amazing,” Woodland said. “Energy was so good. Definitely helped me. Something I fed off of and hopefully that’s the same (Sunday).”
Woodland had four birdies on a six-hole stretch on the backside to maintain the lead. The last three of those birdies came with putts inside of 7 feet.
“Once I settled in, I hit some great shots on the back nine,” Woodland said. “It was a good fight, for sure.”
Hojgaard also was 4-under on that same six-hole stretch, with a 14-foot putt his longest birdie among those holes.
Both golfers had pars on No. 18.
“The course is playing into my strengths,” Hojgaard said. “Good driving length off the tee and approach play, and then I felt like I had good pace with the putter all day.”
Defending champion Min Woo Lee of Australia shot 67 to sit at 12-under, joined by Michael Thorbjornsen (66). Lee might be a long shot to make up enough ground, but he hasn’t dismissed that from happening.
“Just got to stick to the process and hopefully make a lot of birdies,” Lee said. “You’ll probably need help from them to come backwards. I think I’m in the final group, so I’ll have a nice show (Sunday).”
As one of the highlights from Saturday, Lee took a bunker shot on one knee on No. 17, rolling the ball close enough for a birdie putt.
“It wasn’t the most pleasing lie when I first got there,” Lee said. “It was nearly very unplayable because it was on such a steep hill. Luckily, I’m somewhat flexible and I can get low and, yeah, play that shot.”
Combined with the 16th hole, that gave Lee birdies on consecutive holes for the second time during the round.
Thorbjornsen said he has been encouraged by his play this week.
“I think we’re just trying to play smart golf, play to the numbers, just whatever will produce the best score on average,” Thorbjornsen said. “That’s kind of the strategy we’re going to take.”
Sam Stevens (67) and Australia’s Jason Day (68) are at 11-under.
First-round leader Paul Waring of England moved back into contention by shooting 66. He’s at 10-under with Sahith Theegala (66) and Canada’s Sudarshan Yellamaraju (65).
LPGA
South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim took an emphatic step toward defending her title at the Ford Championship on Saturday, setting an LPGA 54-hole record to build a four-stroke lead in Chandler, Ariz.
Despite that hot start, Kim is focused on keeping her approach consistent on Sunday.
“This course, anyone is capable of scoring low, so I will continue to just focus on the same game plan that I did today,” Kim said.
If that focus nets similar results, Kim will be in historic territory. On Saturday, Kim matched her first-day, 11-under-par 61 to put her at 25 under for the tournament, a pace through 54 holes that is the best in LPGA history.
Her 25-under stretch broke the previous record held by four players by one stroke.
Her bogey-free round included birdies on four of her first seven holes before she exceeded that hot start with four straight holes under par on Nos. 10-13. That stretch included an eagle on the par-5 No. 12.
Kim finished her remarkable day at the Cattail Course at Whirlwind Golf Club with birdies on 16 and 17, giving her nine birdies and an eagle on the day.
“I play with my mind, just focusing on one shot at a time,” Kim said. “When I think about the shots, whether it’s striking a certain distance or how I play, I just focus on each at a time.”
Kim’s closest pursuer, unsurprisingly, is World No. 2 Nelly Korda, who led after two rounds and carded a 5-under 67 on Saturday to get to 21 under.
The pair have seen a lot of each other of late, playing in the same group over five straight rounds. Kim kept Korda at bay in last week’s Founders Cup to win by a single stroke in Menlo Park, Calif.
“Nelly is my favorite player,” Kim said. “It’s been great playing together. You know, it’s been great playing with her, competing with her and it’s just been fun overall.”
Korda’s day included five birdies and no bogeys.
“I’m never going to complain about a bogey-free round and 5-under, so it was a solid one,” Korda said.
Korda herself has a healthy lead over her closest competitors, as five golfers are tied at 16 under, five strokes behind Korda (and nine behind Kim). That group consists of England’s Mimi Rhodes (63 on Saturday), Japan’s Chizzy Iwai (67), South Korea’s Ina Yoon (67), Japan’s Minami Katsu (69) and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko (69).
Champions
Stewart Cink ended the Hoag Classic’s second day with as great a flourish as possible, scoring a two-shot albatross on the par-5 18th, giving him a two- shot lead at 14 under at Newport Beach (Calif.) Country Club.
“It was a heck of a walk-off,” Cink said.
Cink nailed a great drive, then sank a 205-yarder using his 6-iron. The veteran golfer said later he knew he hit his second shot well, but he wasn’t sure on location until the crowd reacted.
Cink then reacted himself, posing to flex his muscles to cap off his 9-under- par 62.
“That’s not something we practice. That’s a rare thing that happens,” Cink said of his celebration following the conclusion of his round. “We try not to let the results matter, but when you get a result like that especially at the end of the day, I don’t have to hit another shot, I can’t mess up the next hole.
“So, that’s a cool moment to have happen right there on the 18th hole with the crowd. This is a great crowd here.”
Cink’s big moment overshadowed a great day overall for the five-time Champions tourney winner. Cink also had seven birdies while suffering a single bogey.
That left Cink two shots ahead of the field.
Closest in pursuit are Sweden’s Freddie Jacobson and New Zealand’s Steven Alker, who shot matching 66’s and are tied for second at 12 under.
“I love the course and I also love the area. It’s beautiful,” Jacobson raved about his surroundings. “Tried to swing down by the ocean, we might be looking at hopefully some surfing on Monday. Try to sneak that in.”
South Africa’s Ernie Els and Tim Petrovic each carded a 65 to remain tied at 11 under in fourth place.
Four golfers are tied for sixth at 10 under: David Toms (66), Australia’s Cameron Percy (66), Bo Van Pelt (67) and Brian Gay (69).
Day 1 leader Paul Goydos had a rough day, weathering four bogeys while netting a solitary birdie to settle for a 3-over 74, dropping him into a tie for 21st.
Reigning champion Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain built off a 1-under 70 Friday to go 7 under on Saturday (64), lifting him into a tie for 12th at 8 under.