Golf

Watson caught after poor finish

Harrington four off the pace after struggling in third round

Bubba Watson acknowledges the crowd on the fourth green during the third round of the 13 Travelers Championship. Photograph: Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
Bubba Watson acknowledges the crowd on the fourth green during the third round of the 13 Travelers Championship. Photograph: Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
Sun Jun 23 2013 - 12:01

Bubba Watson retained a share of the lead after the third round of the Travelers Championship despite dropping three shots in the last six holes.

Watson, chasing his first PGA Tour win since he captured last year’s US Masters, stumbled with bogeys at the 13th, 15th and 17th holes to finish with a round of even-par 70.

Watson will go into the final round at 10 under par, tied for the lead with Charley Hoffman and Graham DeLaet, on a heavily congested leaderboard that included England's newly-crowned U.S. Open champion Justin Rose.

Padraig Harrington could only manage a round on 72 after struggling yesterday but remains within four shots of the lead.

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“I hit some shots today that were really good, some quality shots but got a couple bad breaks here and there but that’s golf,” Watson said.

“At the end of the day I still have a chance on Sunday and that’s what we are always looking for on the weeks we are playing.”

Hoffman, who opened the tournament with a stunning 61 but fell back with a second round 73, carded a 66 while DeLaet signed for a 65, matching the best round of the day, as he chases his maiden PGA Tour win.

Chris Stroud (66) and Nick O'Hern (68) were tied for fourth, just one shot off the lead, while Ken Duke was alone in sixth after a 65.

Justin Rose was among a bunch of players in the next group at seven under, after he shot a second successive 68. At the end of the day, 18 players were within four strokes of the lead, setting the stage for a grandstand finish.

Watson, who won his first PGA Tour title at the 2010 Travelers, came out fast with three birdies in his first six holes, before running into trouble in the stretch and getting distracted by spectators.

“I’m sitting here with another chance to win,” Watson said.

“It would be my fifth win and I never thought a guy from Bagdad Florida named Bubba would have a chance for five wins on tour.

“The golf course sets up so well for me. I love the tee shots, there are a lot of cut shots, which I love to do off the tee. I got a lot of wedges and short irons here and I can make putts sometimes so it’s good.”