Simpson leads Casey, Lee by two after 54 holes at Colonial

Webb Simpson lipped-out a birdie chance at the final hole and had to settle for a two-stroke lead over Paul Casey and Danny Lee after the third round of the Dean & DeLuca Invitational in Fort Worth, Texas on Saturday.

2012 U.S. Open champion Simpson's 15-foot putt was headed for the centre of the hole but broke sharply at the end, caught the low side of the cup and spun out.

But that was about the only lament the American had after carding 67 to post a nine-under-par 201 total on another breezy day at Colonial Country Club.

“I’m happy with the day,” Simpson, a four-times PGA Tour winner, told PGATour.com. “I kept the ball in the fairway, putted well, putted consistent. I’m trying to shoot under-par every day and today was another good one.”

Englishman Casey (68) and South Korean-born New Zealander Lee (69) were the closest pursuers on seven-under after finding the final green less frustrating, both making birdie.

Americans Stewart Cink (66) and Kevin Kisner (70) were three off the pace, while defending champion Jordan Spieth (68) and Masters champion Sergio Garcia (71) were five behind.

Spieth played the final seven-plus holes with a stand-in caddie after his regular looper Michael Greller fell ill in the oppressive heat and humidity. Trainer Damon Goddard carried the bag the rest of the way.

"Michael went down with heat exhaustion," said Spieth. "When we were walking down the 11th he said 'this is my last hole.' I thought he was acting a little strange, a little quiet."

Casey, who like Lee has just the one PGA Tour win, has seen his putting touch improve recently.

“Ball-striking has always been my strength," said Casey, who also has 13 European Tour wins. "Weeks I’ve putted well I’ve always had a chance to win, or won.”

“I like Texas. My only other (PGA Tour) victory was at Houston. We can’t predict the future but I’m very excited with how I’ve been playing.”

(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Larry Fine/Peter Rutherford)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Matsuyama out-lasts Simpson for second straight Phoenix crown

LOS ANGELES -- Japan's Hideki Matsuyama won his second straight Phoenix Open title on Sunday, and just like last year he needed a fourth playoff hole to do it.

Matsuyama holed a 12-foot birdie putt at the fourth playoff hole, the par-four 17th at TPC Scottsdale, to edge former US Open champion Webb Simpson.

Simpson's 20-foot birdie attempt to win at the third playoff hole, the par-four 10th, had stopped one roll of the ball short.

Simpson charged up the leaderboard with a seven-under par 64, with birdies at 17 and 18 giving him the clubhouse lead at 17-under 267.

Matsuyama had his chances to seize the win in regulation, but it went to a playoff when his 20-foot putt at the 72nd hole stopped inches short.

He closed with a five-under par 66 to join Simpson on 267, one stroke in front of South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen.

The duo took advantage of the struggles of overnight leader An Byeong-Hun, who started the day with a one-stroke lead over Scotland's Martin Laird but finished with five bogeys and three birdies in a 73 that left him in sixth place on 270.

Rickie Fowler, bested in a playoff by Matsuyama in Phoenix last year, fired a 65 to share fourth with J.J. Spaun (67) on 269.

World number five Matsuyama notched his fifth victory in his last nine starts worldwide, a stretch that included his triumph in the prestigious World Golf Championships HSBC Champions at Shanghai last October.

"It was a struggle, especially that playoff, but I'm really happy to win," he said.

Matsuyama was making his fourth consecutive start in Phoenix and has never finished outside the top five.

He thrives in the rowdy atmosphere of a tournament that attracts mammoth crowds.

Week-long attendance for the tournament this year was estimated at 655,434, by far the most for a golf tournament in history. The previous record of 618,365 was set last year at Phoenix.

With the win, Matsuyama moved atop the USPGA Tour's FedEx Cup standings, surpassing Justin Thomas, who missed the cut. He denied Simpson, the 2012 US Open winner, a first US tour title since 2013.

source: news.abs-cbn.com