Monday 16 March 2015 18:51, UK
Ryan Moore fired four late birdies to take a one-shot lead in to the final round of the Valspar Championship.
With seven players sharing the clubhouse lead at one stage during the third round, Moore had missed a four-foot birdie putt at the first but saved par from 12 feet at the fourth and eight feet at the eighth.
The American struck his tee-shot at the par-three 13th to within 10 feet of the pin, before making three further gains from the final five holes in a blemish-free 69 to move one clear of Jordan Spieth.
Spieth kept up the pressure throughout and made four birdies during another impressive round to move to eight-under for the tournament, with Derek Ernst a further shot back .
The world No 757, who hasn’t posted a top-25 finish on the PGA Tour since victory at the Wells Fargo Championship two years ago, moved into the early clubhouse lead with an eagle at the par-five first, but slipped back down the leaderboard after a missed eight-foot putt saw him bogey the third and then the next.
Ernst responded with three quickfire gains in the space of four holes on the back nine, with the only gap in the birdie run coming via a miraculous par-save at the 13th. After over-hitting his tee-shot in to trees and seeing his second run across the green, the American holed his 40-foot chip from thick rough.
Despite a three-putt bogey from 60 feet at the 16th, Ernst signed off a third round 69 to stay within two of the lead.
“It’s all about belief in yourself,” Ernst told Sky Sports. “This week I just flicked the switch and started believing in myself and it shows.
“I feel really good. I like coming from behind and being an underdog and going out, posting a low number and have them chase me after that.”
Tough conditions
Sean O'Hair was three shots off the pace in fourth after shooting 69 ahead of a group of three on five-under, Patrick Reed, Matt Kuchar and Henrik Stenson.
Scotland's Russell Knox was the highest-placed Briton, tied-10th on three-under after a birdie on the last, while overnight leader Brendon de Jonge posted seven bogeys during a four-over 75 to slip out of contention.
First round pacesetter Brian Davis kicked off Saturday with three straight birdies in a up-and-down one-under 70 to join the group tied-23rd, with Lee Westwood a further stroke back after posting his second 71 of the weekend.
“My all round game has been pretty good,” Westwood told Sky Sports. “This a difficult golf course. I’ve made the odd mistake here and there but it’s the first time I’ve been here so it’s taking some learning.
“There’s just a little bit of fine tuning to be done but my game’s really not far away and I feel that I’m on the verge of contending nearly every week and giving myself a few chances to win.”
Ian Poulter ended a run of 12 consecutive pars when his tee-shot found the water for a double-bogey at the 13th, with further bogeys at 16 and 17 after missing putts from within 10-feet seeing the Englishman sign off a disappointing third round 75.
Watch the final round of the Valspar Championship live from 5pm on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf.
