Steven Bowditch of Australia fired a 4-under-par 65 to take a two-stroke lead over five players after three rounds of the AT&T Byron Nelson at water-logged TPC Las Colinas in Fort Worth, Texas.
After another rain delay before round three, Bowditch birdied three of the first seven holes and after carding his only bogey on the ninth hole, added two more birdies on the back nine.
The course was so soggy that players were allowed to lift, clean and place any balls in the fairway. The par-4, 406-yard 14th hole again was played as par-3 at 107 yards because most of the hole is unplayable, making the par 69.
“The big key out here is hitting these fairways so you can get the ball in the hand,” said Bowditch, whose only PGA Tour victory came in the 2014 Valero Texas Open. “It’s obviously wet out there.
“The greens are surprisingly good so you can make some putts. If you can get in the fairway, you can really attack any pin with these greens being so receptive. I feel like I’m driving it pretty good. I had the putter going (in a first-round 62). It’s gone a bit cold but hopefully it can start up again tomorrow.”
Dustin Johnson carded a bogey-free 62 in round three and was tied for second with Jimmy Walker (67), Jon Curran (67), Jonathan Randolph (65) and Scott Pinckney (64).
Charley Hoffman of Poway and UNLV made five birdies on the back nine en route to a 64 and was three shots behind in a tie for seventh with Ryan Palmer and Joe Affrunti, who both had 67s.
Local favorite Jordan Spieth, the Masters champion, recorded a 68 and was six strokes back in a tie for 18th that included Zach Johnson, who also came in at 68.
