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SPORTS Saturday 4 auguSt 2018

Thomas, Fleetwood, Poulter share lead at Firestone

By DOUG FERGUSON a foot, the guys are go- His finish began with a tee
AP Golf Writer ing to put up good scores. shot on the 17th hole that
AKRON, Ohio (AP) — No- There's 40-plus guys under landed closer to the 16th
body has a better scoring par. That's never the case fairway. His approach went
average Saturday on the here at Firestone. So to- into the front bunker, and
PGA Tour than Tiger Woods, morrow is going to be one he holed out for birdie.
and the Bridgestone Invi- of those days I'm going to Then, he stuffed one on the
tational would be a good have to go out there and 18th for another short birdie
time to keep that up. post a low one and see at a 67.
Woods might not have a what happens." "An adventure to say the
choice. Fleetwood, the runner-up least," McIlroy said. "I was 1
Neither will Rory McIlroy, at the U.S. Open, was most under standing on the 17th
Jason Day or anyone else pleased to see nothing tee and I think if I had to fin-
wanting to keep pace. higher than 4s on his score- ish 1 under, it would have
Tommy Fleetwood took card. He made it look easy, felt like the worst I could
advantage of another soft except for a few times he have shot today. So to get
day of good scoring at Fire- was slightly out of position, those two birdies on the last
stone with a 7-under 63. So and hit perhaps his best two holes is obviously very
did PGA champion Justin shot with a 6-iron to a back- nice and gets a couple
Thomas, who was particu- left pin that settled 3 feet closer to the lead."
larly sharp with his putter for below the cup. Woods opened with a bo-
a 64. They shared the lead "My irons, I just tended to gey, bounced back with
with Ian Poulter, who had a hit exactly where we were three birdies over his next
head start with his career- picking the spots and I four holes and looked like
low 62 and backed it up holed a few putts," Fleet- he might make a move
decently enough Friday wood said. "You've got with his birdie on the 12th.
with a 67. days like that where it's go- Two holes later, he faced
They all played early and ing well, and you've just got such an awkward lie from
finished at 11-under 129. to make the most of them." the top collar of a bunker
No one could catch them, Day, who threw away a that he wasn't sure how to
mainly because there chance to win at Firestone stand or how hard to hit it.
was just enough breeze to two years ago, did make He hit it too hard, through
cause just enough doubt. as many as he would have the green, made bogey
Even so, 45 players from the liked. He still had a 66 play- and missed birdie chances
71-man field were under ing in the same group with coming in.
par, a rarity at Firestone. Woods, and joined Kyle This is only the fourth time
Woods, whose last victory Stanley (68) two shots be- he has been five shots or Justin Thomas watches his putt on the 15th hole during the
was five years ago when he hind the leaders. closer going into the week- second round of the Bridgestone Invitational golf tournament at
won this World Golf Cham- McIlroy was another shot end this year, but there are Firestone Country Club, Friday, Aug. 3, 2018, in Akron, Ohio.
pionship for a record eighth behind after a finishing a plenty of others around Associated Press
time, got within four shots of day of frustration with two him. Also five shots back
the lead with a tee shot to 2 birdies. He was in position were Jon Rahm of Spain, tance wasn't an issue, but cially with the putter, was
feet on the par-3 12th hole. to make birdies, especial- who had a sloppy finish for Thomas said later that odds sharp.
He went 1 over the rest of ly that 380-yard drive he a 70, Tony Finau (68) and were against him making a "It was definitely one of the
the way for a 68, leaving launched at the 482-yard Players champion Webb birdie, and the safer route better putting days I've had
him five shots behind. eighth hole that left him Simpson (65). would have been to lay up in a while," Thomas said. "I
Is another Saturday move only a sand wedge in. It The only regret for Thomas and rely on his wedge. just hit a lot of quality putts.
in the works. came up short, rolled down was a mistake that didn't He hit 3-wood too far right That's what's most impor-
"I'm going to have to," a slope and left him 45 feet cost him as much as it could and into the water. tant. I've had days where
Woods said. "The golf away. He blasted a 319- have. He was in the rough "We were lucky to get up- I've missed more but putt-
course is playing very soft, yard drive down the middle off the tee at the par-5 and-down for 6, but that ed better. ... To me, that's
very receptive. And when at the 10th, only to hit sand 16th and still had some 284 was a stupid decision," not as frustrating as what I
you're able to hit 5-irons wedge just over the green yards to reach the green, Thomas. was doing yesterday — just
and they only roll out about and made bogey. with a pond in front. The dis- The rest of his game, espe- hitting bad putts."q