Garcia's Lead Stays at Three


Though he didn't fire another course-record-tying 9-under 61 Saturday, Sergio Garcia maintained his three-stroke lead in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. The $9 million PGA Tour event is taking place on the South Course at Firestone Country Club in Akron.

The 34-year-old Spaniard posted four birdies and a bogey to reach 14-under 196 and will head into Sunday three clear of Rory McIlroy, who has recorded rounds of 69, 64 and 66.

Garcia had a six-shot lead at one point Saturday, until he made his first bogey - at the par-4 14th - in 38 holes. McIlroy, coming off a win and the third major title of his career two weeks ago at the Open Championship, closed with two birdies to get within eyeshot of Garcia entering the final round.

Garcia and McIlroy will be paired in Sunday's last group. At Royal Liverpool, McIlroy enjoyed a six-stroke lead heading into the final round but Garcia, playing in the group ahead, closed with a 66 but fell short, tying for second with Rickie Fowler, two strokes behind McIlroy.

Garcia is certainly aware of who's trailing him. "Obviously, Rory is playing great, and we get along nicely as of right now," said the eight-time Tour winner, who's seeking his first title since the 2012 Wyndham Championship.

"I think we're both excited about it. We're definitely going to play hard. It will be nice to see if I can do the same thing he did to me a couple of weeks ago. So we'll see."

Despite trailing by three, McIlroy accomplished his goal of getting back into the mix heading into Sunday. "My goal today was to try and get in the final group," he said. "Sergio didn't quite have that luxury of seeing what I was doing on the last. It will be nice to play alongside him tomorrow and at least keep an eye on what's going on.

"Try to apply a bit of pressure when I can, but just really looking forward to getting in there and having another chance to win a tournament so soon after what happened at Hoylake."

Due to the threat of thunderstorms, Saturday's tee times were moved up, starting at 7:00 a.m., and the players went out in threesomes off the first and 10th tees. Despite the precautionary move, there was a three-plus-hour delay because of rain and thunder, but the field completed the third round.

First-round leader Marc Leishman of Australia shot a 68 and is five behind Garcia, while six back are No. 1-ranked Adam Scott (65), Keegan Bradley (67) and Justin Rose (70).

Brandt Snedeker carded his third straight 68 and is in solo seventh at 6-under 204, while J.B. Holmes (67) and Henrik Stenson (68) are tied for eighth at 205.

Scott and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama posted Saturday's low rounds of 5-under. The 22-year-old Matsuyama moved into a tie for 10th at 206 with Harris English (68), Ryan Moore (68), Gary Woodland (68), Thomas Bjorn (69), Jim Furyk (69), Patrick Reed (71) and Fowler (72).

Other scores include a 72 by defending champion Tiger Woods, an eight-time winner at Firestone. Woods carded a birdie, a double-bogey on the par-4 sixth and a bogey to head into the final round at 1-over 211.

Woods, who's still in a comeback mode after undergoing back surgery in late March, told reporters he has been undone by his recent work on the short grass. "I missed a lot of opportunities out there," he said. "I did not putt well again . . . I'm hitting more shots pin-high right on the numbers. I just need to convert. If I putt normal the last two days, I shoot 2-, 3-under par, no problem."

He's continuing to get his game back in competitive shape. "I just need more reps," Woods added. "I'm actually getting better the more rounds I'm playing. I'm actually getting my feel back."

For all the scores, visit http://www.worldgolfchampionships.com/bridgestone-invitational.html.