PGA Tour: Watson takes one-stroke lead

McIlroy’s 161-yard approach landed in the gallery to the right of the green, near a concession stand. He took a drop, which didn’t go well.

“I guess Rory is considering this as the start to his run at the Masters”, Spieth said of the first major of the season that begins April 7.

Last year, Spieth followed a missed cut at Torrey Pines with a tied seventh at Pebble Beach. “Just too many mistakes”.

It came on the 12th hole of a four-under-par round of 67 that moved McIlroy, the world’s third-ranked player, to 10 under for the tournament and near the top of a crowded leaderboard.

“I found it very hard to trust the way the golf course is playing and I didn’t get off to a good start because of that”, the Masters and US Open champion added. “Mine will start the next time”.

The plan was to head back to Dallas for a week off of rest and practice before returning in the Cadillac Championship at Doral. Reavie had a three-shot lead at one point on the back nine, courtesy of a perfectly placed drive that led to eagle on No. 2.

A three-putt on the 18th proved costly for New Zealand’s Lee, who missed the cut by a solitary shot after an even-par 71 left him one over for the tournament. He shot 11 shots better in his second round but it just wasn’t ever going to be enough. That 79 translated into his third-worst lap on TOUR in his 281th career round as a pro and in the end, would’ve have needed 63 on Friday to make the weekend.

Johnson lost in a three-man playoff a year ago, and before that finished second to Watson.

Kokrak’s 64 was the lowest round of the day, with four other players boasting 66s, including Dustin Johnson. “So there are plenty of guys out there”.

“It’s unbelievable. I feel really confident about where my game is and had a great range session”.

“I like where I’m at”, Johnson told reporters after mixing six birdies with a lone bogey on the heavily tree-lined layout. “I think the last three rounds I’ve played pretty solid”.

Rory McIlroy made a total of 54 feet of putts yesterday.

“My advantage is that I can hit more fairways and plot my way around”, said Reavie, who led by as many as three strokes before slipping back late on Saturday.

“Definitely positive (memories) for sure”. “I made a lot of birdies, and now I get a couple extra days of rest”.

“I will be ready to go in the next tournament”. It sets up very good to me.

“It’s been a struggle to learn how to play this golf course”, said Kokrak, who has no top-30 finishes here in four tries. “When you have that many opportunities, you’re going to do well”. However, Kokrak kept himself in contention with a strong back nine as he made three birdies, which included a 20-foot putt at the 14th, and a bogey.

“I hit just a 4-wood into 17”. “He just holed a long putt there on 14”.

Spieth also said his caddie, Michael Greller, put his performance into perspective: “He was just saying, you know, don’t make this a bigger deal than it is”.