Lee will take a three-shot lead into the final round on Monday, having shot into promincence before more than 200,000 fans on Sunday.
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Fowler birdied his final hole for a 68, and Lee had a 66. But he made amends in stunning fashion when he made a 40-feet eagle putt on the next hole, the par-5 13th, and jumped out of the logjam as a sole leader.
“It was the worst shot of the year and I ended up making a birdie, ” said Mickelson, the tournament victor in 1996, 2005, and 2013.
It’s Jang’s first LPGA victory, and she had to overcome waterlogged conditions and a marathon final day to triumph at the Coates Golf Championship in Ocala.
Ireland’s Shane Lowry, who was three shots off the lead after the second round, slipped to joint 10th after a one-over 72 left him on six under par. “Just tried to stay patient, fight through it”.
Ko closed with a 75 and tied for third, three shots behind. “I’m putting the ball more in the middle and trying to hit my irons a little bit higher”. The greens crew used leaf blowers on some of the puddles to help the water evaporate.
Lee got off to a hot start with birdies at five of his first eight holes – including a 20-footer at 16. Suzann Pettersen was in range until she fell back with consecutive bogeys. Jang caught up again with a birdie on the par-3 15th. His fourth birdie of the day on the par-4, 490-yard 14th saw him sink a 35-foot chip from just off the green. Thompson made double bogey.
Fowler, who moved up in the world rankings with his win in Abu Dhabi a fortnight ago then missed the cut at Torrey Pines last week, had four birdies and one bogey, recovering from a bogey at the 17th with a birdie at the last.
She made a par without stress on the 17th, and played the 18th to perfection.
He had already won on the European Tour as an amateur, but had a rough adjustment to the professional ranks and took a few years to make his mark after temporarily losing his way. In his previous two (and only) visits to TPC Scottsdale, Matsuyama was T2 and T3, respectively after 54 holes (eventually finishing T2 and T4).
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“A lot of charities rely on our support year in and year out and, frankly, we all have bigger and better plans each year”, Thunderbirds Birds Nest Chairman Kevin Kopp said. In Gee Chun had a 70 and joined Ko and Sei Young Kim at 8-under 280.
