PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Justin Rose is coming off a year in which he won two PGA Tour events on strong golf courses.
He knows what to expect from his emotions in the final round and how to stay patient amid a crowded leaderboard.
The four guys behind him have never won.
That made Rose’s one-shot lead Saturday in the Transitions Championship seem a little larger.
“It doesn’t mean it’s all going to go smoothly (today),” Rose said. “You have to be ready for whatever happens. But at least I kind of am aware of the ups and downs, and the things I’m going to face. And I think that maybe it’s a lot easier to deal with.”
Rose was patient for long enough for the birdies to fall, and he shot a second straight round of 6-under-par 65 in more perfect conditions to build a lead over Brendon de Jonge and Webb Simpson.
A 6-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole put Rose at 13-under 200, one shot off the 54-hole tournament record.
De Jonge (66) and Simpson (67) have never won on the PGA Tour. Neither have the two guys another shot behind — rookie Scott Stalling (67), who only made his first cut in the big leagues last week in Puerto Rico; and Gary Woodland (67), who lost in a playoff at the Bob Hope Classic this year.
“You want to give yourself a chance to win, and I have that opportunity now,” de Jonge said.
Sergio Garcia finally made a bogey in America this year — it’s his first PGA Tour event since last August — and then made four more in a round of 72 that most likely left him too far behind. He was six shots back.
Stanford takes three-stroke LPGA lead
PHOENIX — Angela Stanford opened a three-stroke lead over Brittany Lincicome in the LPGA Founders Cup, shooting her second consecutive 6-under 66.
Lincicome followed her opening 67 with a 68, and Mindy Kim (67) was another stroke back. Cristie Kerr was another stroke back after a 68.
Jacquelin leading European event
RAGUSA, Sicily — Raphael Jacquelin of France shot a 2-under 69 to take a one-stroke lead over England’s Anthony Wall (72) after the third round of the Sicilian Open.
