Justin Rose of England birdied four of the last six holes to shoot a bogey-free 7-under-par 63 on Saturday and tied Jim Furyk for the lead heading to the final round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio.
Rose, the 2013 U.S. Open champion whose only title in the World Golf Championships came in the 2012 WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral, punctuated his round with a 38-foot birdie putt on the final hole.
Through 54 holes, he was at 9-under 201.
“I didn’t make any birdies yesterday (17 pars, one bogey), but I have played well all week and felt there was a low score out there,” said Rose, who tied for fourth last year at Firestone. “I birdied the first two holes (Saturday) and it was nice to see a couple finally go in. Then I had that hot spell on the back nine.
“I went out there today with the mindset of making some birdies right from the beginning and it got me right back into the tournament.”
Furyk, who has finished second twice among nine top-10 finishes in Bridgestone without winning, sank an 11-foot par putt on the 18th hole to finish a 69 and keep a share of the lead.
Shane Lowry of Ireland carded a 67 and was two shots back in solo third, while Steven Bowditch of Australia matched Rose’s 63, taking his only bogey on the 13th hole, and was four strokes behind in a tie for fourth with Bubba Watson (69), Ian Poulter (65) of England and Henrik Stenson (68) of Sweden.
Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland posted a 69 and was another shot back in a tie for eighth with Brooks Koepka and Robert Streb, who both had 68s.
Players champion Rickie Fowler was tied for 15th after a 70, while Jordan Spieth, the Masters and U.S. Open champion, was tied for 17th following a 72 and Zach Johnson, who claimed the Open Championship at St. Andrews, was tied for 26th after a 71.
Phil Mickelson, who opened with a 76 in the no-cut event, carded a 71 and still has not broken 70 in three rounds, leaving him in a tie for 58th.
