PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – Lee Westwood has another chance to win the Players Championship – and another chance at Bryson DeChambeau.
Westwood put a 25-foot putt birdie on the 17-hole green island and closed a 4-under 68 with a 5-footer par to extend his bogey-free streak on TPC Sawgrass to 44 holes.
It also gave him a 2-shot lead over DeChambeau and set up a rematch last week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
They were in the final group at Bay Hill, where Westwood had a 1-shot lead in the final round only for DeChambeau to make a pair of 5 feet in the final hole to beat him 1 in a big hitter stadium.
“Round 2,” said Westwood with a smile.
The Stadium Course in Sawgrass is more about position than power, although DeChambeau seems capable of winning on just about any field at the moment. He ran three consecutive birdies to start the rear nine and was more excited about his 15-foot stroke on the 18th for a 67.
Westwood was 13 years old and less than 203 years old.
The 47-year-old Englishman had the advantage of 54 holes at Sawgrass in 2010, but fell into the water at par 3 in 17th, eliminating his chances. He tied for fourth.
All these years later, he has another chance and seems to be up to the task.
The same goes for DeChambeau, looking for his third win this season.
It cannot explode in Sawgrass because of the curves of the tree-lined fairways and the water hazards. But its power is still useful. With his tee shot buried in the deep right of fairway 18 about 210 meters away, he pulled an iron 8 very close to the green and created his par chance. DeChambeau twice pumped his powerful arms when he fell.
“You have to do this to win tournaments,” he said. “I didn’t want to leave a sour taste in my mouth.”
Westwood has been around long enough to know that, even with the recent history of Bay Hill, DeChambeau is not the only one who stands in his way, especially on a troubled journey like Sawgrass.
The Sabbath was evident from that.
Justin Thomas started the third round 7 shots ago, opened with four consecutive birdies and then hit a 5-inch iron that stopped inches apart at par 5 16 that left him a tap-in eagle. He shot 64 and was 3 kicks behind, along with Doug Ghim, who is making his debut on Players.
Ghim, one of seven players who had at least part of the lead at any given time on Saturday, was advancing to an expensive play on the easiest hole, par 5 16. He appeared in a bunker under a tree, tried to explode under the branches and took the brute and ended up with his lonely bogey.
Paul Casey had six birdies and an eagle to make up for his mistakes in a 67, leaving him 4 shots behind with Jon Rahm (67). Also 4 shots behind was Brian Harman, who started the day by drilling a wedge for the eagle and fired 69.
Sergio Garcia was 5 kicks back and still can’t handle the short putts, including a 4-foot birdie who missed the low end on the 17th. He had to settle for 72.
Westwood said this would be the biggest victory of his career and, although there were times when he chose not to play as a member of the European Tour, there is no denying the strength of the field – 48 of the top 50 players – and the nature of a playing field. Sawgrass where luck can change with a single stroke.
For DeChambeau, it is a chance to declare himself favorite as the Masters approach, if he has not already done so. He won with strength and placement at Bay Hill. He’s having to rely on a little more this week and says that making mistakes in the right places has helped him to avoid dropping more photos.