New Orleans: Bubba Watson got up and down from a greenside bunker to birdie the last and hold a share of the lead with fellow American Webb Simpson after Saturday's third round of the New Orleans Classic.
Left-hander Watson, who had been one stroke ahead overnight, splashed out to five feet at the par-five 18th and coolly sank the putt for a two-under-par 70 at the TPC Louisiana. That gave the long-hitting American a 12-under total of 204, putting him level with Simpson who had reeled off five consecutive birdies from the par-three third on the way to a flawless 67.
Late surge
At one point, Simpson led the field by two on another hot and breezy day in Louisiana but he failed to make any birdies on the back nine before being caught by Watson's late surge.
American John Rollins carded a 69 to finish alone in third at 11 under, a stroke better than six players including his compatriot Steve Stricker (68), Australian Matt Jones (69) and South Korea's K.J. Choi (67). Britain's Luke Donald, who could become world number one with victory this week, returned a 70 to end five shots off the pace.
Scores
- 204 - Webb Simpson 68-69-67, Bubba Watson 66-68-70
- 205 - John Rollins 67-69-69
- 206 - George McNeil 70-71-65, Charles Howell 68-72-66, K.J. Choi (KOR) 68-71-67, Tommy Gainey 67-71-68, Steve Stricker 70-68-68, Matt Jones (AUS) 66-71-69
- 207 - Joe Durant 67-72-68
- 208 - Fabian Gomez (ARG) 71-71-66, Greg Chalmers (AUS) 72-69-67, David Toms 70-71-67, Dean Wilson 73-64-71, John Senden (AUS) 70-67-71
- 209 - David Hearn (CAN) 71-68-70, Nick O'Hern (AUS) 67-72-70, Luke Donald (GBR) 68-71-70, Jason Dufner 68-69-72, Josh Teater 69-66-74.
