Brian Harman sank a four-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to grab a one-stroke lead over Bubba Watson and Graham DeLaet of Canada heading into the final round of the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn.
The 28-year-old Harman, who like Watson is a left-hander out of the University of Georgia, collected five birdies and carded a second straight 5-under-par 65.
Harman, Watson and DeLaet will play in the final threesome on Sunday.
“It’s always fun to play with Bubba,” said Harman, whose only PGA Tour victory came in the 2014 John Deere Classic. “He was ahead of me at Georgia, so I’ve always looked up to him.
“It’s great to be in the last group with him, but I will approach it the same way. I’ll try to get a good picture on each shot and make some putts. I’m looking forward to it.”
DeLaet, who won three times on the PGA Canada Tour but has never won in the United States, drove the green on the 278-yard 15th hole and sank the six-foot eagle putt en route to a 64.
Watson, who won the Travelers in 2010 for the first of his seven PGA Tour victories, lead by two strokes after each of the first two rounds with scores of 62-67, shot 68 in round three.
“I didn’t hit it as close and didn’t make any putts,” the two-time Masters champion said. “But to be in the last group on Sunday with a chance to win, that’s what we strive for out here.”
Brandt Snedeker, playing early in the day, carded a bogey-free 63 and was three shots back in a tie for third with Zach Johnson and Paul Casey of England, who both recorded 64s.
Chris Stroud posted a 68 despite three straight bogeys in a 68 and was four strokes back in solo seventh, while 22-year-old rookie Patrick Rodgers put up a bogey-free 63 and was another shot behind in a tie for eighth with Sergio Garcia (66), Brice Garnett (66),Jon Curran (67), Mark Wilson (67), Jason Gore (68) and Carl Petterson (70).
