PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Alex Cejka could see chaos all around him at The Players Championship, or at least hear it through the groans of a scorching Saturday at the TPC Sawgrass that delivered so many meltdowns.
He was among the few to survive, taking on the flag with an 8-iron on the final hole that set up a 5-foot birdie for an even-par 72 and a five-shot lead, the largest after three rounds in the 36 years of this prestigious event.
Time to exhale? Not quite.
In a tournament full of surprises, the biggest of all might be his date in the final round today: Tiger Woods.
Woods didn’t look like a player who should be in contention, not after having to play one shot left-handed from the base of a pine, missing one shot by 40 feet with a wedge in his hand and looking increasing frustrated at birdie chances that slipped away. But back-to-back birdies on 16 and 17 changed his fortunes.
His 2-under 70 turned out to be good enough to move up 20 spots into a six-way tie for second, in the final pairing today with a 38-year-old who has never held a final-round lead on U.S. soil.
“It’s going to be tough,” Cejka said. “He’s the best player. It’s going to be a good challenge for me. I know I have a lead, but it’s against not only Tiger but against the rest of the field. I’ve got to play well tomorrow to win here.”
Wright, Kerr tied atop LPGA leaderboard
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Lindsey Wright shot a 7-under 64, and Cristie Kerr had a 66 to share the third-round lead as Lorena Ochoa faltered at the Michelob Ultra Open.
The top-ranked Ochoa shot 74 with only two birdies, both of which were canceled out by a double-bogey at the par-4 14th. She started the day leading by three and now is five behind.
“I don’t know what happened,” Ochoa said. “I didn’t hit the ball bad.”
Vancsik hanging on
TURIN, Italy — Daniel Vancsik of Argentina shot a 2-under 69 despite two late bogeys to retain a slim lead after the third round of the Italian Open.
American John Daly fired a third-straight 69 and was tied for 11th. The Associated Press
