LAST UPDATE | 14 Mar 2021
LEE WESTWOOD MAINTAINTED his lead at the Players Championship in Florida but faces another Sunday battle with Bryson DeChambeau.
Westwood finished runner-up to DeChambeau at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last weekend and holds a two-shot lead over the American after the third round at Sawgrass finished last night.
Westwood, who is looking to become the first Englishman to win the event, has been rock solid so far and did not drop a shot in a four-under-par round of 68 on Saturday to move to 13 under. Ireland’s Shane Lowry shot a three-under round of 69 at Sawgrass today to move into a tie for 16th.
From deep on the island!@WestwoodLee with a huge birdie to extend his lead to 2.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/YKbAzvujpF
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 13, 2021
Lee Westwood and Bryson DeChambeau will play in Sunday’s final group for the second straight week.
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) March 13, 2021
The only other time this has happened in consecutive stroke-play events was Adam Scott and Vijay Singh (2006 TOUR Championship & 2007 Sentry TOC).
After shooting all pars on the front nine, the 47-year-old began to take his chances coming home with birdies at the 10th, 12th, 16th and, most memorably, the fearsome 17th.
“I just had to be patient. I know I’m hitting it good tee to green,” Westwood told Sky Sports Golf.
“I’ve always tried to have fun but it’s easier now so win, lose or draw; I still get off the course in the evenings and I’ve had a good time. I’m not allowing a game of golf to affect me anymore.
“It’s like the rematch isn’t it? I’ve just realised, that will be fun. I like playing with Bryson. He’s a breath of fresh air and it’s good to watch him play golf.
“On what I need to do tomorrow, I just need to have fun again. Try and control my swing, control my golf shots and where I hit it on the golf course, how calm I can stay on the greens and roll the ball down the line I pick. That’s all I can do, it’s all I can control.”
DeChambeau carded a 67, making his move with hat-trick of birdies from the 10th to reach 11 under.
The 27-year-old praised Westwood, saying: “His driving is impeccable, his iron play is impeccable and he makes putts when he needs to. Fortunately for me last week I was able to get the job done, and I think tomorrow is going to be an incredible battle.”
The round of the day came from American Justin Thomas, who carded an eight-under 64 to move to 10 under par. He birdied the first four holes while the highlight was an eagle at 16.
Thomas is tied with fellow American Doug Ghim while Paul Casey is the second Englishman on the leaderboard a further shot back after a second consecutive 67.
He hit an eagle at the second and went out in 31 before three birdies and three bogeys on the way home.
Spaniard Jon Rahm and American Brian Harman also sit on nine under while England’s Matt Fitzpatrick, who began the day in second, is among a group on eight under following a disappointing 72.
Offaly man Lowry is eight shots shy of the pace set by Westwood but will nonetheless be encouraged by the quality of his play over the course of his three rounds this week.
Starting with a four under round of 68, Lowry then shot a 74 on day two. But his form returned yesterday, evident on the first, a par four, which he birdied after holing a putt from 40 feet.
Steady golf followed, five straight pars before he holed a six-footer to birdie the seventh, helping him reach the turn in two under for the day, four under for the tournament.
A superb birdie at the par three 13th - when he chipped in from 50 feet – suggested good things were to come on the inward nine, but a bogey on 15, followed by a birdie at the par five 16th meant Lowry had to settle for a three under round of 69.
- With additional reporting by PA
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