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SPORTS Saturday 30 June 2018

Hossler in 3-way tie for lead, Woods 4 back at TPC Potomac

By DOUG FERGUSON he had a close call in the
AP Golf Writer Houston Open, losing in a
POTOMAC, Md. (AP) — playoff to Ian Poulter. He
Beau Hossler has been has shot in the 60s in 21 of
hanging around the lead his last 38 rounds.
on the weekend in search "I've had a lot of really good
of his first PGA Tour vic- rounds. Unfortunately, I've
tory, and he gets another had some kind of high ones
chance at the Quicken that are uncharacteristic
Loans National. for me," Hossler said. "I think
So does Tiger Woods. that was six in a row in the
Hossler, the 23-year-old in 60s, so I'm feeling good. I'm
his first full year on the tour, getting it in play nicely off
birdied four of his last five the tee and I'm rolling the
holes and finished with a putter really well, so that
35-foot birdie putt on No. obviously helps."
18 for a 4-under 66, giving They were at 9-under 131,
him a share of the lead one shot ahead of Fran-
with Ryan Armour and Brian cesco Molinari (65) and
Gay. Billy Horschel (68). Molinari,
Armour (65) and Gay (64) who is playing the Quicken
each made short birdies on Loans National and John
the par-3 ninth hole to fin- Deere Classic with hopes
ish their rounds and tie for of boosting his FedEx Cup
lead. standing, hit all 18 greens in
Woods finished a steamy regulation.
morning on the TPC Po- Woods was among 20 play-
tomac at Avenel with two ers separated by four shots
pars that felt just as big. On going into the weekend
a day in which he made that is expected to be hot
seven birdies — all but two as ever along the Potomac
of them from 15 feet or lon- River.
ger — Woods didn't let a The course rated the fourth-
good round go to waste at toughest on the PGA Tour Beau Hossler watches his tee shot on the 17th tee during the second round of the Quicken Loans
the end. He saved par from schedule last year behind National golf tournament, Friday, June 29, 2018, in Potomac, Md.
the bunker on the eighth only three majors, though Associated Press
and ninths holes for a 65. the greens have remained
That matched his low score mostly receptive even un- onship to tie for second with four birdies on the front a bogey from the hazard
of the year and left him four der a blistering sun on Fri- behind Bubba Watson. He nine. on the next hole, followed
shots behind, the closest he day. began his big finish by driv- "Brian got off to such a hot that with an 18-foot birdie
has been going into the "I think the course changed ing just through the green start, you were just trying to putt. His biggest shot was
weekend since he was two a little bit at the end of the on the reachable 14th for keep up," Armour said. "You chipping in from 80 feet
shots back at the Valspar day," Horschel said after a simple up-and-down were just trying not to fall on the 18th for birdie as he
Championship. finishing in the afternoon. birdie, stuffed his approach too far behind him, and if made the turn. His favor-
"I'm not that far back," "I think the course will be a to 3 feet on the next hole, you do that, you probably ite shot was a 3-wood he
Woods said. "The scores little bit firm, a little bit fast- and then took on the water were up near the lead." hammered from 282 yards
aren't going to be that er, but I don't think it's go- to the right of the green on Rickie Fowler, the only play- onto the green at the par-5
low and it's going to be a ing to be anywhere what it the par-3 17th and hit that er from the top 10 in the second hole for a two-putt
tough weekend. It will be was last year, so I think you to 6 feet for birdie. world playing this week, birdie.
over 100 degrees and it will can still go out there and Gay started on the back shot a 66 and was in the It added to a 65 and a real-
be a long weekend men- score. We're going to try to nine and opened with five group five shots behind. istic chance going into the
tally and physically. I'm in a put two more rounds in the birdies in eight holes before Woods didn't make a putt weekend.
good position now." 60s, see where it puts us for his momentum slowed. Ar- over 8 feet in the opening "I think I'm not that far away
Hossler has at least a share Sunday." mour, playing in the same round. He started Friday from putting it together
of the 36-hole lead for the Hossler had a 66 on Sunday group, had only one birdie with a 25-foot birdie putt where I can win," Woods
third time this year, and at the Travelers Champi- in 10 holes until he finished on the par-5 10th, and after said.q