Russell Henley charges to a six-shot lead at World Wide Technology
Russell Henley rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt on his first hole and never really let up Saturday until he had a 6-under-par 65 and doubled the size of his lead to six shots in the World Wide Technology at Mayakoba.
This is the sixth time Henley has had at least a share of the 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour, and while he has converted only one of them into a victory — his rookie start in 2013 in Hawaii — he has never had a lead like this.
Will Gordon bogeyed the 18th hole for a 68 to fall even farther back, tied with Patton Kizzire, who had a 67.
Henley was at 22-under 191, breaking his career low for the opening 54 holes on the PGA Tour by one shot. He had a 192 in the Sony Open in January, ultimately losing in a playoff to Hideki Matsuyama.
Equally impressive by Henley was going bogey-free, the only player in the field who has yet to drop a shot at El Camaleon.
Henley sure had his chances. He put his tee shot into the hazard on the 428-yard second hole, took a penalty drop and then hit his approach to 4 feet to save par.
Henley will be going for his fourth career victory, and first since the 2017 Houston Open.
This round had plenty of stress compared with the opening two days, though that made it feel more satisfying because of the key putts he made that saved par and kept momentum in his favor.
He started with a three-shot lead and no one made up any ground.
Sam Ryder was three behind. He was six back after making a double bogey on his first hole, while Henley made his long birdie. Gordon had three straight birdies early on the back nine to try to stay in the game.
“The score was good, but it just felt harder,” Henley said. “It was my favorite of the three days because it wasn’t easy.”
LPGA — Momoko Ueda of Japan shot a 4-under-par 68 to take a one-stroke lead Saturday after three rounds of the Toto Classic in Shiga, Japan. Ueda also held a one-shot lead after the second round.
Ueda, who had a three-round total of 14-under 202, is one shot ahead of Gemma Dryburgh, who shot a 65 for the best round of the day. Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand also had a 65 but was far off the pace at the Seta Golf Course in western Japan.
Ueda won this tournament in 2007 and 2011.
Japanese player Miyu Yamashita shot a 69 and was two strokes back. The field is tightly bunched with nine other players within five shots of the lead.
“I am not comfortable with the rhythm of my swing and also for my putting this week,” Ueda said. “Keeping a good rhythm would be a key for tomorrow.”
Champions — The ageless Bernhard Langer beat his age by two shots with a 9-under 63, giving him a one-shot lead over Paul Goydos in the TimberTech Championship in Boca Raton, Fla., and a chance to move closer to the PGA Tour Champions record for career wins.
Langer opened with three straight birdies, came one turn away from another, and then holed a bunker shot on the par-3 fifth at Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club.
Gloss