In 2005, Adam Scott claimed what was ruled to be an unofficial title in what is now the Genesis Invitational because the tournament was shortened to 36 holes because of rain, but now he has the chance for the real thing on the course known as “Hogan’s Alley.”
The 39-year-old Aussie shot 4-under-par 67 to tie for the lead with top-ranked Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Matt Kuchar heading to the final round at Riviera Country Club www.therivieracountryclub.com in Pacific Palisades.
“I certainly count it, I have the trophy,” Scott (pictured) said of his playoff victory over Chad Campbell 15 years ago. “I’m certainly comfortable here. It seems like everybody struggles on the greens, but I seem putt a little better than I usually do.
“It helps to be precise on this course, hit fairways and greens, but chipping very difficult because of the slopes on the greens. There’s a lot of stress involved if you miss the green on most holes. I was a little shaky early, but tightened things up.
“This is my favorite course on the PGA Tour and it’s nice to get some love from the fans.”
Scott, who has won 30 times as a pro including the Australian PGA Championship in his last start, made three birdies on each nine and his nine-footer for the last of them at No. 18 got him a share of the lead at 10-under 203.
Kuchar, who led after each of the first two rounds, regained a tie for the top spot by holing a 14-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole and saving it with a scrambling par thanks to a four-foot putt on the last hole to cap a 70.
“I had a tough chip shot on 17 and it was great to see that putt go in,” said Kooch, who is seeking his 10th PGA Tour victory. “I look forward to coming to Riviera every year, there’s so much history here. It was great when Ben Hogan played and it’s great now. … It would be great to win here.”
McIlroy, who regained the No. 1 spot in the World Golf Rankings this week, took the lead with birdies on four of the first 13 holes before making his only bogey at No. 14, and holed four par-saving putts down the stretch to shoot 68.
None of those were more than five feet, but even those can be dicey on the tricky Riviera greens.
“When you miss the greens, you just want to get up-and-down to save par, keep things going and move on,” said McIlroy, the reigning FedEx Cup champion. “It was great to make those last few.
“I’ve been managing my game well and I hit the ball better today, it was a good day. It’s great to have a chance to win going into tomorrow. … It’s nice to be in the final group, that’s where you want to be.”
Harold Varner III, who missed the cut in his last four starts, struggled with three bogeys in the middle of the back nine, but made birdie putts of four and seven feet on the last two holes for a 69 and is one stroke back in a tie for fourth with Russell Henley, who holed out from 84 yards for an eagle at No. 12 to highlight his 68.
Fifth-ranked Dustin Johnson, who won at Riviera in 2017, holed a 24-foot putt from the fringe on No. 17 en route to a 67 and is two shots behind in a tie for sixth with Joel Dahmen, who collected four birdies on the back nine in a 66.
Max Homa of Valencia and Cal kick-started his 65 with an 18-foot eagle putt on the first hole and is one more down in a tie for eighth with Taylor Gooch, who started his 64 with a 28-foot eagle putt on the 10th hole, and Sung Kang of South Korea, who made three straight bogeys on the back nine before closing his 70 with a 17-foot birdie putt.
Third-ranked Jon Rahm of Spain is tied for 11th after a 69, second-ranked Brooks Koepka shot 68 and is tied for 28th, while ninth-ranked Xander Schauffele of La Jolla and San Diego State totaled 69 and is in a tie for 36th that includes sixth-ranked Patrick Cantlay of Los Alamitos and UCLA, who finished at 71.
Tenth-ranked Justin Rose of England posted a 74 and is tied for 46th, defending champion J.B. Holmes is tied for 57th after a 76, and eighth-ranked Tiger Woods, the tournament host, also struggled to a 76 and is tied for 63rd.
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