Times wires
Saturday, April 30, 2011
AVONDALE, La. — Bubba Watson was asked if his experience was an edge over co-leader Webb Simpson entering the final round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
"There's no advantage. He wants to win. I want to win," said Watson, a two-time PGA Tour champion but winless in the previous three events in which he had at least a share of the third-round lead.
Watson made a 4-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th hole for 2-under 70 and a share of lead. Simpson, seeking his first tour title, birdied Nos. 3-7, then closed with 11 pars for 67 to match Watson, who has had at least a share of the lead after all three rounds, at 12-under 204 at TPC Louisiana.
"There's always pressure you put on yourself and then the outside pressure that everybody else seems to put on you," Watson said. "You have to get used to that. So for him … winning his first one might be a little tougher for him, but I'm just as nervous as he is. I might have a half a percentage better chance than he does."
Simpson has a share of the 54-hole lead for the first time.
"I've always slept pretty good, going back to college and amateur days, holding the lead," said Simpson, who tied for second behind Phil Mickelson at the Houston Open on April 3. "But this is why we do what we do. This is why we work out, why we practice, to give ourselves a chance to win on the PGA Tour. I think that will kind of calm my nerves."
John Rollins (69) was one back at 11 under, and 2002 winner K.J. Choi (67) was 10 under with Steve Stricker (68), George McNeill (65), Charles Howell (66), Tommy Gainey (68) and Matt Jones (69).
LPGA: Sixteen-year-old pro Alexis Thompson shot 5-under 67 to share the lead with Song-Hee Kim (70) heading into the final round of the LPGA Classic in Mobile, Ala. Both were at 7-under 209. Thompson, from Coral Springs, received a sponsor's exemption for her first event of the year. Amy Yang (72) was a stroke back. Second-round leader Sandra Gal fell three behind with 3-over 75. Seminole's Brittany Lincicome (71) was at 1 under.
ex-brave smoltz misses cut in debut: Former Braves pitcher John Smoltz struggled in his Nationwide Tour debut, missing the cut by 27 strokes at the South Georgia Classic in Valdosta. Smoltz, 43, opened with 12-over 84 after two long weather delays forced him to play 18 holes over two days. In the second round, he shot 15-over 87 to total 27-over 171, nine strokes worse that any of the other 147 golfers who completed both rounds. Smoltz played on a sponsor's exemption.