June 27 2010

8:30 PM

Curtis, Rose fall from the lead

This just in: Ben Curtis badly hooked his drive on the par-4 12th and had to chip out onto the fairway. His approach found the green, but his three-putted for double bogey.

Rose's 12th hole wasn't much better. He also missed the fairway -- again -- and failed to get up and down for his third bogey of the day.

The new leader? Scott Verplank, who shot 64 and is already in the clubhouse at 14 under.


8:07 PM

Three-way tie for the lead

Scott Verplank chipped in for eagle during our LIVE@ coverage to get to 14 under, just one back of Rose, who is playing the 10th. The eagle was Verplank's second in three holes -- he made a three on the par-5 13th.

Update: Rose missed his par putt on the 10th to fall to 14 under and into a tie for the lead with Ben Curtis and Verplank at 14 under.


June 18 2010

3:20 AM

Harrington wouldn't mind chaos

No offense, but Padraig Harrington wouldn't mind a little chaos this weekend. You know, one of those windy days when anything can happen. Think 1992. Tom Kite. Harrington, the only player who has won three majors since 2007, threw out his second 73 this week and is sitting at 4-over 146 -- seven shots behind leader Graeme McDowell. Tied for 25th with, oh, Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, David Toms, Scott Verplank and a few others. "From my own perspective, I'd love to see one of the rounds absolutely to be chaos,'' Harrington said. "When you're seven shots behind, seven shots can go very quickly on a golf course - a bit like 1992 which Tom Kite won. It doesn't take very much for seven shots to disappear on a windy, fair day out there. "Not saying I'll enjoy it myself, but it will give me the best opportunity.'' He knows he needs a weekend like he had at Oakland Hills when he won the 2008 PGA Championship. A pair of 66s. Good enough to edge Sergio Garcia. The kind of day playing partner Phil Mickelson had Friday at Pebble Beach -- one that pushed him 64 places up the leader board and into a tie for second. "I've got to go out and play well two consecutive rounds,'' Harrington said. "I've got a bit of work to do from where I'm at.'' He was a little disappointed that he gave himself a little more work to do at the end of the day. "I  failed to play 17 well and didn't get up and down on 18 either,'' he said of his bogey-par finish. "If I would've got home at level par, i would have felt really good going into the weekend.'' As it is, he knows the low rounds are out there. He watched every shot of Mickelson's Friday. He knows it can be done. "He was spectacular all day,'' Harrington said. "I got to see it first hand. He didn't miss a shot all day. He had the ball well under control. Best I've ever seen him play. It was as easy a 66 as you'll ever see.'' And if someone guaranteed Harrington a closing 66? Chaos or not. "I wouldn't turn it down'' he grinned. -- Melanie Hauser

June 17 2010

6:21 PM

Windblown

Surprised to see former major champs David Toms and Justin Leonard on the leaderboard?

Don't be. Both are great wind players. Ditto for Scott Verplank, who's keeping in touch with the leaders.

Toms, who is playing with a shoulder injury, finished in a share of 16th here in 2000 -- with Leonard. The former PGA champ also has two top-5s at Opens. Leonard  has been up and down this season, too, while Verplank comes in on a roll. He finished T5 in each of his last two events -- the HP Byron Nelson Championship and the Crowne Plaza at Colonial. -- Melanie Hauser


May 30 2010

7:28 PM

Pavin hanging tough

Corey Pavin just made a 9-foot birdie putt at the 10th hole to move within a stroke of the lead at 16 under.

The 50-year-old Ryder Cup captain is 4 under for the day and hot on the heels of Zach Johnson, Brian Davis and Bryce Molder. Pavin is tied with Jeff Overton, Scott Verplank and Ben Crane.

Pavin won at Colonial in 1985 and ‘96.


May 9 2010

6:49 PM

Verplank not bugged by winds

He hasn't hit the ball great, but Scott Verplank's short game has been a superstar in the final round.

Verplank is 4 under -- one of the very few more a couple under today -- to pull within four of the lead.

Case in point? The 13th. Verplank blew his tee shot way over the green but he chipped adroitly to a foot for an easy par.

Verplank, a short hitter, faces long odds for victory -- he has yet to play two of the monster par-4s that make up the finish -- but if he can somehow get in the clubhouse at 11 or 12 under, who knows? -- Ryan Smithson


May 8 2010

2:56 PM

Early birdies for Woods, Verplank

Tiger Woods just birdied the par-5 second hole, getting up and down from the left rough as he rolled in an 11-footer, but Scott Verplank had the best shot on the hole, nearly jarring his short wedge approach before tapping in for a birdie of his own. -- Brian Wacker