Matteson holds 3-stroke Deere lead

Associated Press

SILVIS, Ill.

Troy Matteson shot a 5-under 66 Saturday to take a three-shot lead into the final round at the John Deere Classic.

Steve Stricker, who also shot a 66, sits in second place at 15 under in his quest for a fourth straight tournament title. Stricker birdied four straight holes beginning at the 14th, but bogeyed the par-4 18th, stubbing a chip shot and missing a 15-footer for par.

Both Matteson and Stricker bogeyed the last hole, setting up their final-round pairing together at TPC Deere Run, where Stricker, a Wisconsin native who was an all-American at Illinois, has become a local favorite by winning the last three years.

Former Masters champion Zach Johnson also carded a 66 to climb into contention at 14 under, along with left-hander Brian Harman.

Billy Hurley, J.J. Henry and 2006 champion John Senden are tied for fifth, five strokes behind. Hurley’s 64 matched the best round of the day, while Senden eagled the par-5 second hole en route to a bogey-free 67.

“It’s great for me if I win,” said Matteson. “If Stricker wins, it’s a really big story.”

Stricker is attempting to join Tom Morris Jr., Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen and Tiger Woods as a winner four straight times in the same tournament. Woods has accomplished the feat twice.

“I can’t even believe three years have gone by,” said Stricker, who was five strokes behind Matteson at one point during the back nine.

His 76-yard wedge shot to the par-4 14th green landed two feet from the hole to set up the first of four straight birdies. He sank a 5-footer at the 15th, a 6-footer at the 16th, and an 11-footer at the par-5 17th after missing the fairway with his tee shot and sending his approach into a greenside bunker.

“Those were four nice birdies in a row, which I really needed,” Stricker said.

The final one made up for the bogey on the last hole, set up by shoving his tee shot into a grove of trees to the right of the fairway. Nonetheless, he posted his 37th under-par round at Deere Run in 39 attempts, and is 109 under par at the course since the tournament moved here in 2000.

Johnson, whose gallery in the third round rivaled Stricker’s, is from nearby Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is a member of the tournament’s board of directors. While chasing his first win at Deere Run, he understands Stricker could make history.

“If I can’t win it, I wouldn’t mind seeing him win it,” Johnson said.