First PGA Tour triumph in reach for Fathauer

“I was just out there having fun, trying to make jokes with my caddie and keep the mood light and just play golf”, the 29-year-old Fathauer said after a round that included four birdies in his first nine holes, and one coming in.

The 19-year-old Australian player two-putted from 50 feet on the par-5 17th for the last of her six birdies at tree-lined Club de Golf Mexico.

McDowell, playing the early-season event in Mexico as well as next week’s McGladrey Classic in a bid to bounce back from a disastrous 2014-15 campaign, had a 12-under par total of 130 and a one-shot lead over American Derek Fathauer.

Fathuaer, seeking his first PGA Tour win, signed a blemish-free card to go to 16 under overall, putting him one shot ahead of fellow American Jason Bohn, who is two shots clear of a four-way tie for third.

McDowell typically plays the European Tour this time of the year as it wraps up the Race to Dubai. The first round was then suspended due to darkness which resulted in 21 players not finishing. “And I have to do a lot of things, but I miss a lot, too”. He was in the same group as MS victor Peter Malnati, who shot a 68, and HSBC Champions victor Russell Knox, who had a 70.

“As I went down to get them, I figured I could be going home very soon”, McDowell said.

Park birdies way to lead: MEXICO CITY – Inbee Park made two late birdies and shot 5-under 67 to open a three-stroke lead in the LPGA Tour’s Lorena Ochoa Invitational.

Shanghai • Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee shot a 6-under 66 to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the BMW Masters.

Despite a calamitous start – carding a double-bogey at the opening hole and another at the second – McDowell managed to recover with four birdies leaving him three strokes off the lead.

Johnson Wagner had a third straight 67 and was four shots behind.