Steve Stricker will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the Memorial Tournament despite a late stumble on Saturday.
Stricker had looked on course to hold a commanding five-stroke advantage after three days play, but two late bogeys saw him slip back to 12-under through 54 holes, three ahead of second-placed Jonathan Byrd.
Stricker came into the weekend with a three-shot advantage and made a blistering start as he threatened to run away with the title, making eagles at the par-four second and par-five fifth. The American then dropped a shot at the par-four sixth but he responded immediately with back-to-back birdies just before the turn. However, just as it looked as though he would take a big lead into Sunday the 44-year-old suffered a mini-implosion with bogeys at the far-five 15th and par-three 16th that resulted in a score of 69.
Stricker eagle at the second
Fellow American Byrd is his closest challenger after three days play, with the 33-year-old having made four birdies and one bogey in a three-under-par 69 that improved his total to nine-under, one shot ahead of two more Americans in Matt Kuchar (68) and Brandt Jobe (69).
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy is on seven-under along with Mark Wilson (66) and Shaun Micheel (67). The 22-year-old recovered from a double-bogey at the par-three fourth to card a one-under-par round of 71, which featured an eagle at the par-five 15th.
McIlroy eagles the 15th
McIlroy said afterwards: “I didn't play particularly well. I only hit 11 greens, which is not really like me. But I hung in there. I played the last six holes in three-under par, so I was happy with how I finished. It puts me in a decent position going into tomorrow.”
World number one Luke Donald had a disappointing day with a one-over-par 73, his worst round of this tournament so far. The Englishman began brightly with a birdie at his very first hole, but he carded four bogeys from there, with two more birdies, as he failed to get himself into contention and ended Saturday on four-under.
