Stunning Henrik Stenson one stroke off third-round lead at tight Houston Open
Swede posts the best score of the day to vault within a shot of the third-round lead in Texas
Swede Henrik Stenson posted the best score of the day, a six-under-par 66, to vault within a shot of the third-round lead at the Houston Open on Saturday.
Stenson, one of the best players not to have won a major championship, rolled in a 40-foot putt to save par at the final hole and join Americans Dustin Johnson and Russell Henley in a tie for third at the windy Golf Club of Houston.
American journeymen Jim Herman and Jamie Lovemark carded 67 and 70 respectively to head a crowded leaderboard at 11-under 205.
Stenson, winless on the PGA Tour since the 2013 Tour Championship, fired seven birdies and one bogey, but needed to get up-and-down to save par on the final three holes.
“That really keeps us in contention,” he told PGA Tour Radio. “It was tough coming in. It was gusty conditions.”
A win on Sunday would provide a timely confidence boost heading to next week’s Masters, where the world number seven will try to break his major drought.
“I’m going to try once again to play a good final round and we’ll see where that takes us,” Stenson, 39, said.
A fast start from Lovemark and a sturdy finish from Herman pushed the pair of Americans into a share of the lead. Herman birdied two of his final seven holes for his bogey-free round, while Lovemark made three straight birdies beginning at the second hole.
“There is a lot to play for tomorrow, but I’m not really worried about that,” Herman told Golf Channel.
“I’m going to keep doing what I have been doing the last three days and that’s keeping the ball on the fairway and out of the hazards, and giving myself as many birdie chances as I can.”
Lovemark charged into the lead at 12-under with his hot start. But he played his final 14 holes in one-over.
Overnight leader Charley Hoffman struggled with a 74 to slip three shots behind, while Masters champion Jordan Spieth (70) is five back.