SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Brandt Snedeker is back to playing like the rising young PGA Tour star he was supposed to be after he was named rookie of the year in 2007.
The 29-year-old rolled in his sixth birdie of the day Saturday on No. 17 and finished at 14-under 199 for a one-shot lead over Scott Piercy in the Phoenix Open.
Snedeker shot a 66, while Piercy had two eagles en route to a 65 in the third round.
Rickie Fowler (69) and Matt Every (68) were two back at 12-under. Camilo Villegas (71), who shared the lead with Mark Wilson (72) after two rounds, birdied the last two holes to finish even for the day and minus-11 for the tournament.
Wilson, Mark Calcavecchia and Lee Janzen, who both shot 67, were among nine players at 10-under 203.
The 49-year-old Calcavecchia has won the Phoenix Open three times, in 1989, 1992 and 2001. The last of his 13 PGA Tour victories came in 2007.
• Juli Inkster and Ai Miyazato each shot 3-under 69 to share a two-shot lead after the third round of the HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore.
The 49-year-old Inkster led most of the round and finished at 7-under 209. The Hall of Famer could become the oldest winner in LPGA history. Beth Daniel was 46 when she won the Canadian Women’s Open in 2003.
Miyazato, who won the season- opener last week in Thailand, moved into a tie with a 30-foot eagle putt on the 16th hole.
Momoko Ueda (68), Sun YoungYoo (71), Hee Young Park (69) and Hee-won Han (71) were two shots back. Cristie Kerr (71) and Suzann Pettersen (72) trail by three strokes.
Venus wins her 47th WTA title
ACAPULCO, Mexico — Venus Williams came from a set down to defend her Mexican Open title, beating Polona Hercog 2-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Williams’ second consecutive title pushed her career total to 43 WTA titles, the most by an active player.
David Ferrer defeated Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to end Ferrero’s 14-match winning streak.
• Ernests Gulbis and Ivo Karlovic will play in the final at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships in Florida. Gulbis reached his first career final with a 6-4, 6-4 semifinal win over Jarkko Nieminen while Karlovic took out defending champ Mardy Fish 6-2, 6-3.
• Elena Dementieva and Alisa Kleybanova won semifinal matches to set up an all-Russian final at the inaugural Malaysian Open in Singapore. Dementieva defeated Sybille Bammer 6-1, 6-3 while Kleybanova beat Ayumi Morita 6-4, 6-1 to reach her first career WTA final.
Bills part ways with Owens
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Terrell Owens is on the market after the Buffalo Bills announced they do not plan to offer him a contract.
Owens, who will turn 37 in December, caught 55 passes for 829 yards and five touchdowns in his only season in Buffalo. He recorded the 1,000th catch of his career in Week 16 at Atlanta to become the sixth player in NFL history to reach the milestone.
The Associated Press
