AKRON, Ohio — England's Justin Rose rolled in a 38-foot birdie putt at the par-four last to move into a tie for the lead with overnight pacesetter Jim Furyk after the third round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational Saturday. Rose, who has produced stellar form this year since tying for second at the Masters in April, charged to the top with a sizzling seven-under 63 in slightly more receptive conditions at Firestone Country Club.
The world number eight birdied four of the last six holes in a bogey-free display to finish at nine-under 201, level with American Furyk who did well to sink a par putt from 11 feet on the final green for a 69.
“I haven't seen a putt go in all week from outside eight feet, it feels like,” Rose told reporters after he celebrated his monster putt on the 18th green with a wink to the crowd.
Rose, who won his seventh PGA Tour title in New Orleans in April, has recorded five top-10s on the US circuit this season, including a playoff loss at the Memorial Tournament in June and a tie for sixth at last month's British Open.
Ireland's Shane Lowry, seeking his first victory on the PGA Tour, was alone in third place at seven-under after carding a five-birdie 67 at the elite World Golf Championships event.
Australian Steve Bowditch, who matched Rose with the lowest score of the week, was a further two strokes back with England's Ian Poulter (65), Swede Henrik Stenson (68) and American Bubba Watson (69).
Masters and US Open champion Jordan Spieth, who had been six strokes off the pace overnight, tumbled down the leaderboard as he struggled to a two-over 72 that included a double-bogey at the last.
Henry birdies No. 18
American JJ Henry made a tap-in birdie on the final hole of the third round to seize the lead at the PGA Tour's Barracuda Championship in Reno Saturday.
Henry has compiled 41 total points for a one point lead over David Toms and Sweden's Jonas Blixt in the unique tournament, which features a Modified Stableford scoring system assigning point values to shots rather than registering a score relative to par.
The 40-year-old Henry scored 17 points in the third round after finishing with nine birdies and one bogey.
He is bidding for his second title in the event after winning in 2012 for the second of his two career USPGA Tour victories.
Toms finished with 10 birdies and two bogeys for 18 points in the third round. Blixt had seven birdies and an eagle for a 16-point performance at the Montreux Golf and Country Club. — Agencies
