Solid Weir takes one-shot lead over charging Villegas at Deutsche Bank

9/1/2008

Sunshine began to bake the greens, the wind kept players guessing and the birdie cheers kept right on coming Sunday in the Deutsche Bank Championship, the final one for Mike Weir.

His third birdie over the final five holes gave him a 4-under 67 and a one-shot lead.

And it meant next to nothing.

First came a pair of 63s from Ben Crane and Camilo Villegas, the kind of score no one thought possible in such blustery conditions. Then came the steady surge of Sergio Garcia and Vijay Singh, and a late charge from Ernie Els and Jim Furyk to set the stage for the Labor Day finish.

Expect everyone to work extra hard to win the Deutsche Bank
Championship.

Villegas ignored the swirling wind and took only 22 putts in his round of 63, which put him in the final group Monday with Weir, one shot behind and perhaps his best chance for his first PGA Tour victory.

Three shots behind were Garcia (68) and Singh (69), part of the playoff last week at The Barclays that Singh won to move atop the FedExCup standings.

And right behind them were Furyk, who birdied three of his last four holes for a 69; Els, who made eagle on the final hole after nearly holing a 5-iron and posting a 69; and Crane, whose 63 came much earlier in the day.

Ten players were separated by five shots going into the Labor Day finish, the kind of shootout the Deutsche Bank Championship always seems to produce.

Tiger Woods isn't around to take part in this one, and neither is defending champion Phil Mickelson. He played an ordinary round of 1-over 72 and missed the 54-hole cut, leaving questions about whether he will play next week in St. Louis in the third round of these playoffs.

Conditions were much more difficult, but Villegas and Crane sure didn't take notice.

Leaderboard – Round 3:

1. Mike Weir                   CAN  61 68 67 196 -17
2. Camilo Villegas           COL  68 66 63 197 -16
3. Sergio Garcia               ESP  67 64 68 199 -14
    Vijay Singh                   FIJ  64 66 69 199 -14
5. Ben Crane                   USA  72 65 63 200 -13
    Ernie Els                      SAF  66 65 69 200 -13
    Jim Furyk                    USA  66 65 69 200 -13
8. Briny Baird                   USA  64 69 68 201 -12
    Heath Slocum              USA  64 68 69 201 -12
    Tim Clark                    SAF  66 62 73 201 -12

Source: AP, PGA Tour