PRO GOLF ROUNDUP Saturday’s recaps

PGA

Reed ahead by 1 at FedEx Cup opener

JERSEY CITY, N.J.

Patrick Reed handled the strong gusts and a Liberty National course starting to dry out with a 4-under 67 that gave him a one-shot lead over Abraham Ancer of Mexico going into the final round of The Northern Trust.

Dustin Johnson, twice a winner of this FedEx Cup playoffs opener, didn’t make a birdie until the 10th hole, and then saw his round fall apart with four bogeys over the last six holes for a 74 that dropped him five shots behind.

Jordan Spieth began his round by hitting his tee shot into the water, lost ground and momentum with a sloppy double bogey — his first of the week — from the fairway on No. 7 and recorded only two birdies in his round of 74. It was his second straight Saturday swoon, and this one could be costly. He is No. 69 in the FedEx Cup, and a strong finish this week could help salvage his season with a trip to East Lake for the FedEx Cup finale.

He still has one round left and a big crowd in front of him.

Reed was at 14-under 199 and will be paired in the final group with Ancer, who had a 68.

Brandt Snedeker had a pair of eagles in his round of 63 that left him two shots behind, along with Jon Rahm of Spain, who had a 69. Justin Rose was among those another shot behind, with Rory McIlroy finishing with two birdies over his last three holes for a 70 to get within four shots of the lead.

DeChambeau defends criticism of slow play

Jersey City N.J.

Bryson DeChambeau wasted no time defending himself against accusations of slow play Saturday after criticism on social media stemming from a video showing him taking more than two minutes to hit an 8-foot putt.

Among those who criticized him on Twitter was Eddie Pepperell of England, who is not at The Northern Trust because he’s not a PGA Tour member. He referred to DeChambeau as “the unaffected single minded twit” who doesn’t care much for others.

Rich Beem, a former PGA champion who works for British-based Sky Sports, said he was outraged as a PGA Tour member that protecting the field should include penalizing or disqualifying this kind of behavior.

DeChambeau said the putt in question Friday was difficult to judge because it looked different than what the greens book indicated, and his caddie called him off the putt at one point.

“When people start talking to me about slow play and how I’m killing the game, I’m doing this-and-that to the game, that is complete and utter ... you-know what,” he said. “That’s not fair.”

The tour policy allows for one minute for the first player hitting a particular shot — from the tee, the fairway, around the green — and 40 seconds for everyone else. Warning, bad times or even penalties are not issued unless the group is out of position.

LPGA

Moriya Jutanugarn leads Scottish Open

North Berwick, Scotland

Trying to follow her sister with a Ladies Scottish Open victory, Moriya Jutanugarn shot a 4-under 67 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead into the final round at The Renaissance Club.

“Well, it would be, of course, like any win, you always feel great with it and especially like Scotland is Home of Golf, of course,” Jutanugarn said about adding her name a notch below younger sister Ariya’s on the trophy. “I think because she felt like she never played good on a links course, so that’s why she kind of pretty surprised what she had done.”

Ariya Jutanugarn won last year at Gullane.

Moriya Jutanugarn had six birdies and two bogeys on a partly sunny day with the breeze at 5-10 mph and temperatures in the 60s. The Thai player had a 16-under 197 total.

South Korean players Jeongeun Lee6 (66) and Mi Jung Hur (70) were tied for second.

Moriya Jutanugarn opened with rounds of 64 and 66 has hit 48 of 54 greens in regulation.

Lee6 won the U.S. Women’s Open in June in South Carolina. She’s a newcomer to links golf.

Hur shot a 62 in the second round, taking just 24 putts.

Mi Hyang Lee was fourth at 12 under after a 68.

Ariya Jutanugarn was 10 under with Jane Park, Chella Choi, Anne van Dam and Scotland’s Carly Booth.

Associated Press