Top-ranked Justin Rose of England had a chance to run away from the field, but three errant shots cost him five strokes.
Still, Rose shot 3-under-par 69 and will take a three-stroke lead over Adam Scott of Australia to the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open on the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course www.torreypinesgolfcourse.com in La Jolla.
“I played well overall, but obviously three 6s on the card are not good,” said Rose, who claimed his 23rd professional victory in the Turkish Airlines Open in November. “I started well and then gave it all back, but that can happen on this course and I’m happy with the way I responded.
“I just want to stay positive and aggressive, keep moving forward. I still posted a good score and I’m still leading. I need to shake off those mistakes, which are going to happen occasionally. I just need to go out tomorrow and finish off the tournament.”
Rose hit shots over the cliff above the Pacific Ocean to make double-bogey 6s on the sixth and 14th holes, and hit his approach shot into the water on No. 18, but still recorded a 54-hole score of 18-under 198 with the help of a 20-foot eagle putt at No. 9.
Scott, seeking his first victory since the 2016 WGC-Cadillac Championship, holed out from 103 yards on the second hole to kick-start a 65, while seventh-ranked Jon Rahm of Spain, who won the 2017 Farmers, is four behind after capping a 68 by sinking a 10-foot birdie putt on the last hole.
Rookie Doug Ghim, playing on a sponsor’s exemption, birdied three of the last six holes for a 67 and is five down in solo fourth, followed one more stroke behind by Talor Gooch, who holed an 86-foot bunker shot for an eagle on No. 9 and added five birdies on the back nine in another 67.
Eighth-ranked Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland made a three-foot birdie putt on the last hole to finish a 69 and is seven back in a tie for sixth with Billy Horschel, who totaled 71, Joel Dahmen, who wound up at 70, and Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, who came home in 73.
Defending champion Jason Day of Australia and 10th-ranked Tony Finau both shot 69 and are tied for 16th, while sixth-ranked Xander Schauffele of La Jolla and San Diego State is tied for 25th after a 70, and Tiger Woods, who has won eight times at Torrey Pines, totaled 71 and is tied for 48th.
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