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Davis fights back, Woodland leads golf

American golfer Gary Woodland has a one-shot lead in the US PGA tournament in Mexico going into the final round.

3 min read

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Source: AAP


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Australian youngster Cameron Davis has bounced back at the US PGA Tour event in Mexico with a five-under-par third round to be seven shots behind leader Gary Woodland.

The 21-year-old Davis, making his tour debut, matched his opening round score of 66, and goes into the final day at 11 under and tied 14th.

Davis tumbled down the leaderboard after a second round, one-under 70, before clawing his way back into the tournament with an eagle and four birdies on Saturday.

Long-hitting American Woodland preserved a one-stroke lead on a relatively calm day at the sun-splashed resort of Playa del Carmen.

Woodland played superb golf for 17 of his 18 holes as he fired a five-under-par 66 on the El Camaleon course to post an 18-under 195.

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Compatriot Pat Perez, benefiting from an improved mental approach to the game, was alone in second after carding a best-of-the-week 62 with fellow American Scott Piercy (66) a further stroke back at 16 under.

Woodland had been one ahead of the field overnight and appeared to be in cruise control as he birdied seven of the first 13 holes to increase his advantage to three with four to play.

However, he surprisingly ran up a double-bogey at the par-three 15th after overshooting the green with an aggressive seven-iron off the tee from 208 yards, his ball ending up in thick ocean scrub from where he had to take a penalty drop.

Woodland then chipped six feet past the cup and missed the bogey putt coming back for his lead to be cut to one, but he parred the next three holes and remains a stroke in front.

"I really played beautifully all day," Woodland, who won the most recent of his two PGA Tour titles at the 2013 Reno-Tahoe Open, told Golf Channel.

"I drove the ball exceptionally well, drove it in the fairway all day.

"Had some good numbers but controlled my distances very well coming into the greens, and I putted it pretty well. So I am excited about where I am and I'm excited about tomorrow."

Perez, who was sidelined for eight months this year by a shoulder injury, rocketed up the leaderboard with a sizzling 62 that included eight birdies and an eagle at the par-five fifth.


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