
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — From back-to-back eagles to back-to-back shots in the water, Bryson DeChambeau had a little bit of everything Saturday in the BMW Championship – a wild ride at Caves Valley that ended with him tied for the lead with Patrick Cantlay.
Right when it looked as though DeChambeau would use sheer power and a remarkable touch with the putter to run away from the field, his blunders on the back nine made him settle for a 5-under 67, but still looking like the player to beat.
Cantlay’s classic style worked just fine, too. He didn’t drop a shot until a tee shot into deep rough on the 18th that led to bogey and a 66.
The action at the top was so furious that DeChambeau went from a one-shot deficit to a three-shot lead in two holes on the front nine, and Cantlay went from a four-shot deficit to a one-shot lead in two holes on the back nine.
While Cantlay ran off three straight birdies early on the back nine, DeChambeau hit into the water on the par-5 12th (bogey) and the par-3 13th (double bogey).
They were at 21-under 195, three shots ahead of Sungjae Im, who birdied his last two holes for a 66. The group four shots back included Rory McIlroy, who had a bogey-free 65.
Crisp-hitting Abraham Ancer of Mexico (66), Sam Burns (65) and Sergio Garcia (67) also were in the group four shots behind.
The biggest disappointment belonged to Jon Rahm, the world’s No. 1 player, who had three bogeys and no birdies over the last six holes and shot 70. He fell five shots behind.
EUROPEAN TOUR: American Sean Crocker shot a 6-under 64 to grab a share of lead after the third round of the European Masters in Crans-Montana, Switzerland.
Crocker had six birdies and an eagle-3 at the 14th to finish at 10 under alongside Renato Paratore. The Italian’s round of 69 included retrieving his ball when it landed on a spectator’s backpack.
They were one stroke ahead of two Englishmen, Matthew Jordan and Ross McGowan, and Spain’s Jorge Campillo, who all carded 1-under 69.
Twelve players were within three shots of the co-leaders, including Andy Sullivan who was at 7 under after making double bogey on the par-4 18th.
CHAMPIONS TOUR: Bernhard Langer birdied the final hole for a 6-under 66 and a share of the second-round lead in The Ally Challenge at Grand Blanc, Michigan.
A day after shooting his age on his 64th birthday, Langer had six birdies in a bogey-free round at Warwick Hills to match Doug Barron at 14-under 130.
Joe Durant was a stroke back after a 66. Thongchai Jaidee was 12 under after a 65.
CURTIS CUP: Top-ranked amateur Rose Zhang capped an unbeaten week as the Americans won six of the eight singles matches to beat Great Britain & Ireland in Conwy, Wales.
Zhang went 4-0-1 for the week at Conwy Golf Club, finishing with a 1-up victory over Emily Toy in the anchor match. By then, the United States had won so many matches that the Curtis Cup had already been clinched. That added to a 12 1/2-7 1/2 victory for the United States, which extended its dominance in the premier team event for women’s amateur golf. The Curtis Cup began in 1932 and the Americans now lead the series 30-8-3.
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