NORTON, Mass.CRANS- SUR-SIERRE, Switzerland — Even after three wins in the last 15 months, Bubba Watson still gets nervous going into the final round with a chance to win.
At least he has some company at the Deutsche Bank Championship. A lot of company.
Right when Watson looked as though he might pull away Sunday at the TPC Boston, the wind became strong enough to make him think twice about the shots he wanted to hit. Three of them didn’t turn out real well and led to bogeys. He managed one more birdie, at least, for a 1-under-par 70 and the lead going into the last round.
Watson was one shot ahead of five players. Another five players were two shots behind. Seven other players were three shots behind. And even Phil Mickelson, who started the round 11 shots behind, suddenly was only four back.
“Anybody has a chance,” Watson said.
Watson likes his chances just a little bit better. Despite the wind causing some indecision on the back nine, he still rifled a 3-iron into the fairway and a wedge to 8 feet for birdie on the 17th to get some separation, even if it was just a single shot.
“It’s always nice to be in the final group, because then you know what everybody is doing,” Watson said. “It’s a good position to be in.”
Even so, the Labor Day finish figures to be wide open.
Adam Scott (71) and Jason Day (67) were among five players in a tie for second. Luke Donald, the No. 1 player in the world, and Jim Furyk were in the large group just two shots behind.
Mickelson even has a chance. He holed out a 7-iron from the rough on the 12th hole for eagle on his way to a 63, and wound up among two dozen players separated by four shots with 18 holes remaining.
Watson was at 11-under 202 as he goes after his third win of the year — and by far the biggest of his career.
Bjorn wins again Thomas Bjorn won back-to- back titles for the first time in his career, shooting a 9-under 62 to take the European Masters by four strokes.
Bjorn made nine birdies and an eagle in a blistering final round to finish with a 20-under total of 264.
The victory came a week after the 40-year-old Dane won a five-man playoff in Gleneagles, Scotland.
Germany’s Martin Kaymer (65) finished second, a shot ahead of Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy (68).
