PITTSFORD, New York (AP) ― Karrie Webb is in territory she used to take for granted ― in contention at a major on the LPGA Tour. She relishes the feeling like never before.
“I still get really excited for the majors and the importance they have on everyone’s career,” Webb said Saturday after shooting a 4-under 68 to move within one shot of the lead after the third round of the LPGA Championship. “I probably want it more than I ever have in my career.”
Webb, who counts seven majors among her 38 career wins, hasn’t won one since beating Lorena Ochoa in a one-hole, sudden-death playoff in 2006 for her second Kraft Nabisco Championship title. Here, the Australian star is chasing Ji Eun-hee heading to Sunday’s final round.
Webb had four bogeys en route to a 2-over 74 on the opening round. The Australian has come back into contention with two straight rounds under par, though Friday’s 71 was punctuated by five birdies and four bogeys. She had five more birdies on Saturday and only one bogey ― at the first hole ― to match Ji for the lowest round over the first three days.
Ji Eun-hee watches her approach shot on the fourth hole. (AFP-Yonhap News)
“I think my patience level has really been quite good ― for me,” said Webb, whose best finish in 10 tournaments this year is a tie for fourth at the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic in late April. “On Thursday, I started feeling sorry for myself. The fact that I overcame that early trouble really reinforced that. The stakes will be a lot higher (Sunday), but I’ve done a good job so far.”
St. Jude ClassicMEMPHIS, Tennessee (AP) ― Davis Love III thinks he’s playing as well as he did earlier this year before pulling a rib muscle at Bay Hill. Now the U.S. Ryder Cup captain is eager to see just how much he might do.
Love III shot his third straight 2-under 68 on Saturday to join Nick O’Hern and John Merrick atop the leaderboard at the windy St. Jude Classic. Asked what his first PGA Tour win since 2008 would mean, the 48-year-old Love had a quick answer.
“Be a lot of Ryder Cup points,” Love said.
With a win, Love is projected to jump from 63 into the top 30 in the Ryder Cup standings. Love started off this year excited about how he was playing before injuries slowed him down. He wound up not playing at all for about six weeks after withdrawing on the final day at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in late March before returning at The Players Championship.
Nordea Masters
BRO, Sweden (AP) ― England’s Lee Westwood won the Nordea Masters for the third time for his 22nd European Tour title, closing with a 3-under 69 for a five-stroke victory.
The third-ranked Westwood finished at 19-under 269 at Bro Hof Slott. He also won the event in 1996 and 2000. England’s Ross Fisher was second after a 71.