Scott edges Garcia to win Honda Classic

(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky). Sergio Garcia, of Spain, tees off from the second hole during the fourth round of the Honda Classic golf tournament, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell is three-under following a 67. Walker had the lead with a birdie on No. 3 but didn’t make another until the 18th, and that was to break 80.

Fowler is nothing if not resilient. And then if it becomes a two-horse race on the last three or four holes, I’ll welcome that.

Fowler got back to work last week in Florida after his big disappointment in the Phoenix Open and shot the course record at The Medalist (66). That shot went into the water. “I got off to a dream start to kind of set the pace”.

Former British Open victor Louis Oosthuizen shot a 5-under 67 to take a three-stroke lead after three rounds of the Perth International at Perth, Australia. He didn’t miss a green through 13 holes.

“So I need to play good golf tomorrow, solid golf, give myself a lot of birdie opportunities like I did today, and there’s not much more that you can do then.”. That’s one of the few things outside of Bubba Watson winning Augusta that I feel confident about. On Thursday, he chipped in from deep rough for par from behind the 10th green.

Otherwise, his second round was clean.

Fowler’s struggles were compounded by some brilliant scoring from Garcia and Scott in the penultimate group, the good friends a combined nine under par for the front nine to surge clear of the field.

Or maybe not. After all, it ended in another European victory. Provided he can make some birdies, of course.

“I guess that’s why they call it the Bear Trap”, said Scott of holes 15, 16 and 17. “Rickie is playing really, really well, so I’m going to have to play extremely well to keep up with him”.

The cut was at 3-over 143, and Phil Mickelson made it on the number.

“It was the wrong time to make a bad swing on the tee and it put me in an awkward spot. I don’t think it’s going to be that big a deal for me”, Scott said.

In contrast Fowler is yet to drop a single shot, although the 27-year-old admitted he was fortunate to escape with a wild drive on the first, his 10th hole of the day. I’m really not complaining. I was trying I was trying to get a ball dry [onto the 15th green]. I don’t know what to say.

Garcia acknowledged his game wasn’t where it needed to be to win and that Scott was the better player today. It has only one left – Fowler. Only three players in three decades won a PGA Tour event after taking a quadruple at any stage.

With a ban on anchoring putters to the chin or chest coming into effect at the start of this year, Scott had tried to wean himself off his beloved broomstick putter during his 2015 campaign but experienced several setbacks with that transition.

He got through the late par 3s over water – Nos. He still managed a 4-under 66 to share the lead with Garcia going into the final round.

On one-under, Pretswell is nine shots off the lead, held by Jiyai Shin after the South Korean moved into pole position with a 71 in tough conditions.