Fleetwood takes charge at rich Travelers Championship
Tommy Fleetwood has issued Jason Day and company a catch-me-if-you-can challenge after storming to a big third-round lead at the PGA Tour's Signature Travelers Championship in Connecticut.
Arguably the best player on tour yet to break through for a victory on golf's most prestigious tour, Fleetwood fashioned a brilliant bogey-free round of 63 to surge to 16 under for the tournament.
The Englishmen started the day in a share of the lead with superstar Americans Justin Thomas and world No.1 Scottie Scheffler, one shot of ahead of Australian Day.
But in extraordinary, million-to-one scenes, Scheffler and Thomas racked up disastrous triple and quadruple bogeys respectively in their rounds to crash out of contention.
Instead fellow Americans Russell Henley and US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley emerged as Fleetwood's closest pursuers at the end of a most dramatic moving day at TPC River Highlands.
Henley amassed nine birdies in his own blemish-free round of 61, while Bradley matched Fleetwood's 63 to also finish three shots behind the hot pacesetter.
Day followed up two 68s with a 69 to be two strokes further back in solo fourth spot entering championship Sunday.
The former world No.1 looked to have slipped out of contention with two mid-round bogeys before conjuring a hat-trick of birdies from the 13th to 15th holes to give himself a shot at claiming a 14th PGA Tour victory.
With US trio Brian Harman (65), Wyndham Clark (66) and Harris English (67) next best at eight under and eight shots off the pace, it looks a race in four to the $US3.6 million ($A5.56 million) winner's cheque.
Fleetwood, though, will take some catching.
The Paris Olympics silver medallist has his best chance yet to clinch a maiden Tour triumph following a record 41 top-10 finishes without a win, the most in 52 years.
After ambling along for much of the first two days, Fleetwood has played his last 24 holes in 12 under, reeling off three eagles and six birdies in an electrifying stretch to seize command at the $US20 million ($A30.9 million) event.
Eyeing a fourth victory in six starts, Scheffler was the clear favourite entering Saturday's third round (Sunday AEST) level with Thomas and Fleetwood at nine under.
But the PGA champion dropped three shots on a diabolical opening hole, and never recovered.
Scheffler 's third-round 72 left the triple major champ in a five-way tie for eighth at seven under, nine shots adrift of Fleetwood, with Rory McIlroy (67), Lucas Glover (68), Patrick Cantlay (68), Nick Taylor (69) and Danny McCarthy (70).
Thomas is another shot back at six under after racking up a nine on the par-5 14th hole.
Day's fellow Australian former world No.1 Adam Scott rebounded from his final-round horror show at last week's US Open with a sizzling round of 62 to rocket 34 places up the leaderboard to a share of 25th at four under.
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Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley has rallied from three shots behind with four holes to play and birdied the 18th hole before a delirious home crowd for a two-under 68 to win the Travelers Championship. The victory only strengthened the case for Bradley to bring his clubs to Bethpage Black for the September matches against Europe. He moved to No.9 in the standings. And he wound up beating Tommy Fleetwood, who scored the clinching point for Europe at Marco Simone two years ago. One shot behind Fleetwood going to the 18th hole, Bradley stuffed his approach to just under six feet below the hole. Fleetwood, looking like this might be the time he wins a PGA Tour title, came up some 50 feet short and took three putts for bogey and a 72. Bradley kept his feet planted when the putt dropped and shook his fist. New England's favourite son delivered a stunner at the TPC River Highlands, capping off the finish in oppressive heat with a 35-foot birdie putt on the 15th and the six-footer at the end. "Of all the shots and all the putts I hit, I think I'm going to remember that one the most," he said of his final birdie. It was crushing for Fleetwood, the 34-year-old from England who has built a reputable record around the world but is winless in 84 regular PGA Tour events. "Still feel like from where I was, I should at least be in a playoff," he said. "So, yeah, it's a crappy way to finish." Russell Henley (69) chipped in from across the 18th green for birdie and joined Fleetwood one shot behind. Harris English (65) boosted his Ryder Cup hopes by tying for fourth with Australia's Jason Day (68), two adrift of Bradley. Day started with a birdie on the first and then two more on 11 and 14, but his title challenge fizzled out across the final four holes, bogeying the par-4 17th to go one over on the run home. Bradley has two wins against world-class fields in the last 10 months, finishing at 15-under 265 and claiming $US3.6 million ($A5.5 million) for his first title in a signature event. He also won the BMW Championship, the second FedEx Cup playoff event, last August at Cherry Hills outside Denver. "I felt like I was just too far behind the whole day," Bradley said. "I was just chasing, chasing ... It was insane, the crowd and the atmosphere and the scene there." The 39-year-old won on the one-year anniversary that he received the call asking him to be Ryder Cup captain. Scottie Scheffler (65), who had a share of the 36-hole lead until a 72 in the third round, tied for sixth with Rory McIlroy (65), three shots back. Scheffler and McIlroy already have clinched spots on the Ryder Cup team. Bradley is assured of being there, too. Still to be determined his what role he plays. With AAP & Reuters. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley has rallied from three shots behind with four holes to play and birdied the 18th hole before a delirious home crowd for a two-under 68 to win the Travelers Championship. The victory only strengthened the case for Bradley to bring his clubs to Bethpage Black for the September matches against Europe. He moved to No.9 in the standings. And he wound up beating Tommy Fleetwood, who scored the clinching point for Europe at Marco Simone two years ago. One shot behind Fleetwood going to the 18th hole, Bradley stuffed his approach to just under six feet below the hole. Fleetwood, looking like this might be the time he wins a PGA Tour title, came up some 50 feet short and took three putts for bogey and a 72. Bradley kept his feet planted when the putt dropped and shook his fist. New England's favourite son delivered a stunner at the TPC River Highlands, capping off the finish in oppressive heat with a 35-foot birdie putt on the 15th and the six-footer at the end. "Of all the shots and all the putts I hit, I think I'm going to remember that one the most," he said of his final birdie. It was crushing for Fleetwood, the 34-year-old from England who has built a reputable record around the world but is winless in 84 regular PGA Tour events. "Still feel like from where I was, I should at least be in a playoff," he said. "So, yeah, it's a crappy way to finish." Russell Henley (69) chipped in from across the 18th green for birdie and joined Fleetwood one shot behind. Harris English (65) boosted his Ryder Cup hopes by tying for fourth with Australia's Jason Day (68), two adrift of Bradley. Day started with a birdie on the first and then two more on 11 and 14, but his title challenge fizzled out across the final four holes, bogeying the par-4 17th to go one over on the run home. Bradley has two wins against world-class fields in the last 10 months, finishing at 15-under 265 and claiming $US3.6 million ($A5.5 million) for his first title in a signature event. He also won the BMW Championship, the second FedEx Cup playoff event, last August at Cherry Hills outside Denver. "I felt like I was just too far behind the whole day," Bradley said. "I was just chasing, chasing ... It was insane, the crowd and the atmosphere and the scene there." The 39-year-old won on the one-year anniversary that he received the call asking him to be Ryder Cup captain. Scottie Scheffler (65), who had a share of the 36-hole lead until a 72 in the third round, tied for sixth with Rory McIlroy (65), three shots back. Scheffler and McIlroy already have clinched spots on the Ryder Cup team. Bradley is assured of being there, too. Still to be determined his what role he plays. With AAP & Reuters. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley has rallied from three shots behind with four holes to play and birdied the 18th hole before a delirious home crowd for a two-under 68 to win the Travelers Championship. The victory only strengthened the case for Bradley to bring his clubs to Bethpage Black for the September matches against Europe. He moved to No.9 in the standings. And he wound up beating Tommy Fleetwood, who scored the clinching point for Europe at Marco Simone two years ago. One shot behind Fleetwood going to the 18th hole, Bradley stuffed his approach to just under six feet below the hole. Fleetwood, looking like this might be the time he wins a PGA Tour title, came up some 50 feet short and took three putts for bogey and a 72. Bradley kept his feet planted when the putt dropped and shook his fist. New England's favourite son delivered a stunner at the TPC River Highlands, capping off the finish in oppressive heat with a 35-foot birdie putt on the 15th and the six-footer at the end. "Of all the shots and all the putts I hit, I think I'm going to remember that one the most," he said of his final birdie. It was crushing for Fleetwood, the 34-year-old from England who has built a reputable record around the world but is winless in 84 regular PGA Tour events. "Still feel like from where I was, I should at least be in a playoff," he said. "So, yeah, it's a crappy way to finish." Russell Henley (69) chipped in from across the 18th green for birdie and joined Fleetwood one shot behind. Harris English (65) boosted his Ryder Cup hopes by tying for fourth with Australia's Jason Day (68), two adrift of Bradley. Day started with a birdie on the first and then two more on 11 and 14, but his title challenge fizzled out across the final four holes, bogeying the par-4 17th to go one over on the run home. Bradley has two wins against world-class fields in the last 10 months, finishing at 15-under 265 and claiming $US3.6 million ($A5.5 million) for his first title in a signature event. He also won the BMW Championship, the second FedEx Cup playoff event, last August at Cherry Hills outside Denver. "I felt like I was just too far behind the whole day," Bradley said. "I was just chasing, chasing ... It was insane, the crowd and the atmosphere and the scene there." The 39-year-old won on the one-year anniversary that he received the call asking him to be Ryder Cup captain. Scottie Scheffler (65), who had a share of the 36-hole lead until a 72 in the third round, tied for sixth with Rory McIlroy (65), three shots back. Scheffler and McIlroy already have clinched spots on the Ryder Cup team. Bradley is assured of being there, too. Still to be determined his what role he plays. With AAP & Reuters. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley has rallied from three shots behind with four holes to play and birdied the 18th hole before a delirious home crowd for a two-under 68 to win the Travelers Championship. The victory only strengthened the case for Bradley to bring his clubs to Bethpage Black for the September matches against Europe. He moved to No.9 in the standings. And he wound up beating Tommy Fleetwood, who scored the clinching point for Europe at Marco Simone two years ago. One shot behind Fleetwood going to the 18th hole, Bradley stuffed his approach to just under six feet below the hole. Fleetwood, looking like this might be the time he wins a PGA Tour title, came up some 50 feet short and took three putts for bogey and a 72. Bradley kept his feet planted when the putt dropped and shook his fist. New England's favourite son delivered a stunner at the TPC River Highlands, capping off the finish in oppressive heat with a 35-foot birdie putt on the 15th and the six-footer at the end. "Of all the shots and all the putts I hit, I think I'm going to remember that one the most," he said of his final birdie. It was crushing for Fleetwood, the 34-year-old from England who has built a reputable record around the world but is winless in 84 regular PGA Tour events. "Still feel like from where I was, I should at least be in a playoff," he said. "So, yeah, it's a crappy way to finish." Russell Henley (69) chipped in from across the 18th green for birdie and joined Fleetwood one shot behind. Harris English (65) boosted his Ryder Cup hopes by tying for fourth with Australia's Jason Day (68), two adrift of Bradley. Day started with a birdie on the first and then two more on 11 and 14, but his title challenge fizzled out across the final four holes, bogeying the par-4 17th to go one over on the run home. Bradley has two wins against world-class fields in the last 10 months, finishing at 15-under 265 and claiming $US3.6 million ($A5.5 million) for his first title in a signature event. He also won the BMW Championship, the second FedEx Cup playoff event, last August at Cherry Hills outside Denver. "I felt like I was just too far behind the whole day," Bradley said. "I was just chasing, chasing ... It was insane, the crowd and the atmosphere and the scene there." The 39-year-old won on the one-year anniversary that he received the call asking him to be Ryder Cup captain. Scottie Scheffler (65), who had a share of the 36-hole lead until a 72 in the third round, tied for sixth with Rory McIlroy (65), three shots back. Scheffler and McIlroy already have clinched spots on the Ryder Cup team. Bradley is assured of being there, too. Still to be determined his what role he plays. With AAP & Reuters.
