Pettersson lets birdies fly

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This article was published 15/04/2012 (5237 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Carl Pettersson couldn’t have had a better time with Colt Knost at the RBC Heritage. He hopes to have as much fun when the two play again today.

Pettersson had a run of five straight birdies on the front nine and finished with a birdie on the 18th hole for a 66 and a one-stroke lead over Knost heading into the final round of the RBC Heritage on Saturday.

Pettersson and Knost chatted and laughed throughout the round, looking more like a pair of duffers at the local muni out for a weekend round rather than pro golfers chasing a PGA Tour title.

“Two fat guys played in three hours 48 minutes,” Pettersson said with a smile. “That was pretty good. But we had a good time.”

Especially Pettersson, who used his birdie streak to overtake a nervous Knost and build a three-shot lead through 10 holes. Knost tamed the butterflies enough to find the game that had him in the lead here after Thursday and Friday, tying for the top after Pettersson’s bogey on the par-5 15th hole.

Pettersson moved in front at the end with a stunning approach that slid by the cup on No. 18 for a closing birdie. The two will match up again in the final pairing today.

“I’m going to try tomorrow to have fun,” said Knost, seeking his first win on the PGA Tour.

Zach Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, shot a 66 to move to third at 8 under, three behind the leaders. Two-time RBC Heritage champion Boo Weekley had a 70 and was in fourth, another shot behind. Defending champ Brandt Snedeker (69), Kevin Na (70) and Robert Garrigus (70) were next at 6 under.

Calgary’s Stephen Ames shot a 66 to improve to 24th at 2-under par, while Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., hit a 73 to finish the day tied for 52nd at 2 over.

World No. 1 Luke Donald failed to make a move toward keeping the top spot, his even-par 71 leaving him at 2 over and tied for 52nd. Donald needs to finish eighth or better to fend off No. 2 Rory McIlroy, who like Masters champion Bubba Watson and most other top golfers, was taking the week off.

Knost’s roller-coaster round included a 190-yard drive off No. 1 to take bogey, followed by an eagle on No. 2. And there were plenty of missed fairways on the tight holes of Harbour Town Golf Links. Still, he kept close enough with a 69.

“I could have got rattled pretty easy after that start,” Knost said. “But like I said, I’m really proud of the way I hung in.”

Pettersson threatened to turn the tournament into a runaway with his early birdie streak. Knost would not let that happen, overcoming some unsteady play to keep close to his playing partner. It wasn’t easy.

He came to the first tee with a two-stroke lead, then knocked his opening tee shot into some pine straw to the right of the fairway and took bogey. He followed that by rolling in a 48-foot eagle putt from the left fringe on No. 2 and flashed a wide smile that even had Pettersson grinning.

Knost’s up-and-down ride continued through the front nine. There was the lip-out on No. 3 for bogey, the layup and chip to 10 feet on the par-5 fifth for birdie, and solid par saves from the bunker on No. 7 and from more pine straw on No. 8.

Then on the ninth, after another wayward drive, Knost punched it to 10 feet and made the birdie to stay one behind Pettersson.

Things swung Pettersson’s way once more on the 10th, his lead growing to three shots after he made birdie and Knost was short on his approach and missed an 8-foot attempt at par. Still, Knost kept grinding. A birdie on the 13th hole drew Knost within a stroke and the pair were tied at the top at 11 under when Pettersson took bogey on the par-5 15th hole.

The two matched pars until the windswept 18th, when Pettersson struck a stunning approach that slid by the cup and settled 8 feet past. He rolled in the putt with a smile.

Johnson put together his second straight sub-70 round to move into third. He has largely struggled at Harbour Town, his best showing a tie for sixth the week after he slipped on the green jacket five years ago. Johnson’s round took flight with an eagle on No. 5. He closed with birdies on the 16th and 18th as he looks for his first victory since the Crown Plaza Invitational at Colonial in 2010.

“We’ve still got 18 holes,” Johnson said. “The last four or five holes, if I’m near the lead, we can get after it a little bit.”

Donald, starting almost five hours before the leaders, never got things going. Without an absolute miracle, he will fall from No. 1 after he finishes today, surrendering the top spot to McIlroy, who is spending time with girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki as she competes in Denmark, according to the tennis star’s tweets.

 

— The Associated Press