Australian Nick O’Hern is well placed to capture his maiden US PGA crown sitting just a shot off the lead heading into the final round at the $US6.1 million Travelers Championship.
Bubba Watson, struggled to a level par 70 on Saturday to finish 54 holes on 10-under par 200 and fall into a three-way tie for the lead with Canada’s Graham DeLaet, who fired the day’s low round of 65, and fellow American Charley Hoffman, who shot a 66.
O’Hern shot three birdies and a bogey on his way to a two-under 68 round and sits level with American Chris Stroud on 201.
American Ken Duke on 202 in a group with seven others, including new US Open champion Justin Rose of England, on 203.
Fellow Australian Marc Leishman shot a 68 round to be four strokes off the lead on 204 with Stuart Appleby (69) a further shot back.
Watson, winless since taking last year’s Masters, was happy with his performance.
“I hit some shots that were really good, some quality shots. I got a couple bad breaks too, but that’s golf,” said Watson the 2010 Travelers champion and last year’s runner-up.
“I still have a shot on Sunday and that’s what we’re looking for when we’re playing.”
Watson started strong, dropping a 93-yard approach shot inches from the cup for a birdie at the second hole and sinking a 32-foot putt from just off the green for a birdie at the third. He added another birdie at the par-5 sixth.
But Watson struggled on the back nine with bogeys at the par-5 13th and par-4 15th.
DeLaet birdied the par-4 second and began the back nine with four birdies in a row, the last at the par-5 13th after dropping his approach six feet from the pin. DeLaet also answered a bogey at the par-3 16th by closing with a 15-foot birdie putt at the 18th.
Hoffman opened the front and back nine with birdies and added others at the fourth, sixth and 14th holes. His lone bogey came at the par-4 12th.
Rose, coming off his first major title last week at Merion, moved into position for a last-day charge.
“When I’ve gotten on a good run of form I have kept it going for two or three weeks. That’s the goal now,” Rose said. “I’ve been playing really well this week.”
