Scott Piercy continues to ride the high from tying for second in the U.S. Open two weeks ago.
Piercy, who has won three times on the PGA Tour, shot 3-under-par 67 on Saturday to tie top-ranked Jason Day of Australia for the lead after three rounds of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio.
“It definitely helped my confidence because it was so tough to hit the fairway in the U.S. Open,” said Piercy, who sank a 48-foot bunker shot for eagle on the second hole and held sole possession of the lead until making his lone bogey at No. 18 to finish even with Day at 5-under 205 for 54 holes. “It’s difficult here, too, but not quite as hard.
“I played a clean round with not a lot of stress and my putter saved me when I was in trouble. If I can keep driving it well, I think I have a good chance tomorrow.”
Day, who has won three times this season, fought his swing all day but scrambled for a 69, sinking a 35-foot birdie putt on the 15th hole after falling back with two bogeys late on the first nine.
Piercy and Day were the only players to break par each of the first three days at stingy Firestone.
“I didn’t know where my golf ball was going,” said Day, who birdied two of the first six holes, but spent most of the round chipping and putting to save par. “I was desperate. I was trying to play a draw and kept losing it right.
“I hit a lot of errant shots, but my short game saved me. I was just trying to get the ball up around the greens somewhere. The positive is, I haven’t hit the ball well and I’m still tied for the lead.
“Hopefully tomorrow I can hit some fairways and greens, and give myself more chances for birdies.”
David Lingmerth of Sweden, whose only PGA Tour victory came in the 2015 Memorial Tournament, also was tied for the lead before making a bogey on No. 16 and was one stroke back in third, while Brian Stuard had a 67 and was another shot behind in fourth.
U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson birdied four of the last six holes on the front nine en route to a 66 that was the low score of the day and was three strokes back in a tie for fifth with Charl Schwartzel of South Africa, who had a 67, and first-round leader William McGirt, who came in at 70.
“I’ve been working hard on my distance control with my wedges and that was working today,” Johnson said. “I’m only a few back, but I have to go out there and put together another special round tomorrow to have a chance to win, but you never know.”
Justin Thomas hit into the water while making a double-bogey 7 on the 16th hole but still managed a 70 to tie for eighth, four shots down, with Emiliano Grillo of Argentina, who had two late bogeys in a 71.
Second-ranked Jordan Spieth went Thomas one better with a triple-bogey 8 with a water ball at No. 16 and recorded a 71 that left him five back in a tie for 10th with Kevin Chappell of Fresno and UCLA, who had three birdies in five holes through No. 12 in a 69.
Bubba Watson was tied for 12th after a 70, Adam Scott shot 73 and was tied for 18th, Rickie Fowler of Murrieta had a 72 to tie for 22nd, Phil Mickelson’s 73 left him in a tie for 33rd, and defending champion Shane Lowry of Ireland was tie for 40th following a 70.
–Story courtesy of The Sports Xchange, TSX Golf Editor Tom LaMarre
