Ko, Park lurk at Tour Championship
Ha Na Jang held on to a share of the lead at the CME Group Tour Championship, but some big names are lurking not far behind.
The South Korean continued to impress at the LPGA's season finale in Florida on Saturday, adding a third-round, three-under-par 69 to move to 13 under par for the tournament.
That was good enough for a share of the lead with Cristie Kerr, who made the biggest move amongst the front-runners thanks to an excellent six-under-par 66.
Jang was only one under par through her first 13 holes, but picked up another birdie at the 14th before making a superb eagle on the penultimate hole.
That moved her to 14 under par and gave her sole possession of the lead, though a closing bogey would see her drop down into a tie with a charging Kerr.
Kerr would have been disappointed after an opening bogey at the par-five first, but would go on to make an incredible five birdies in her next six holes, adding two more later in the round to rocket into the running.
Kerr and Jang are two shots clear of Gerina Piller and world number one Lydia Ko, who remains right in the hunt after a three-under-par 69.
Ko was sedate on the front nine, rolling in nine successive pars as the tournament threatened to get away from her, but three birdies on the back – including two in her last three holes – went a long way towards closing the gap.
Lexi Thompson, Karine Icher and Brittany Lincicome follow on 10 under, three back, while Inbee Park, Ko's main rival for top honours at the end of the LPGA season, can't be counted out after carding a five-under-par 67 to move to nine under, four shots off the lead and two behind Ko.
It all seems perfectly poised for a final-round shoot-out, as the tournament – and the battle between between Ko and Park for top honours – looks set to go right down to the wire.
Latest
-
NewsSteve Stricker makes Padraig Harrington sweat as Irishman wins US Senior Open
The pair were rival captains in last year’s Ryder Cup in Wisconsin.
-
NewsGolfers warned of further sanctions if they continue to play in LIV breakaway
The DP World Tour has issued fines of £100,000 and tournament bans to its members who played in the inaugural LIV Golf event earlier this month
-
European TourDP World Tour hits members who played inaugural LIV series with £100,000 fines
They have also been banned from several forthcoming tournaments including the Scottish Open.
-
NewsRory McIlroy not impressed as Brooks Koepka becomes latest big name to join LIV
The world number two labelled the players who have joined the new series as “duplicitous” for the way they have handled their breakaway.
-
The OpenR&A confirms LIV Golf Series players will be allowed to compete at Open
The 150th Open Championship will get underway at St Andrews in three weeks’ time.
-
US OpenMatt Fitzpatrick turns to other major winners for advice on dealing with fame
Fitzpatrick won the US Open on Sunday.
-
NewsBrooks Koepka set to join Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series
Koepka’s brother Chase played in the opening event at Centurion Club earlier this month.
-
US OpenGary Player urges Matt Fitzpatrick to avoid ‘poison’ of modern-day coaching
Player tells US Open champion Fitzpatrick to learn from mistakes of recent major winners, saying: “The teaching today is the worst it has ever been.”
-
US OpenMatt Fitzpatrick’s caddie Billy Foster ready for ‘long party’ after US Open win
Foster won his first major after a 40-year career which includes spells working for the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke.
-
US OpenMatt Fitzpatrick backed to become a dominant force after winning first major
The Englishman claimed his first major title at Brookline.