PALM HARBOR, Florida — Bill Haas looked at ease on the greens at the Valspar Championship here Saturday after a putting tip from Rickie Fowler helped him move into a one-stroke lead over Graham DeLaet after the third round.
American Haas collected five birdies, including a 30-foot chip-in at the 15th, along with one bogey to card a four-under 67 on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor.
He posted an eight-under 205 total, while Canadian DeLaet carded a 68 to improve to seven-under, within sight of his first PGA Tour victory after going winless in 136 career starts.
Charley Hoffman and Ryan Moore trail by three shots, while Steve Stricker, the joint halfway leader, is part of a group sitting four behind.
Defending champion and world No. 1 Jordan Spieth, who shot an opening 76, carded a 67 to sit equal ninth, six shots off the pace.
Leader Haas, a six-times PGA Tour winner, has a chance to close in on the nine tour victories recorded by his father Jay.
“Everything I do in this game is because of what he taught me growing up,” he told Golf Channel.
“Mentally, he’s usually that guy that puts things in perspective for me. If I’m complaining, he says if you want to have a long career, get used to the lows and just enjoy the highs.
“That’s kind of what I’m trying to do. It hasn’t been good lately but like this week shows, you never know what can happen, and hopefully I have a good day tomorrow.”
Haas has also benefited from a putting tip from fellow pro Fowler, weakening his left hand to allow a purer stroke.
DeLaet has three runner-up finishes on tour, along with three third-placings.
He is in contention again thanks in no small measure to an eagle at the par-five 14th, where he hit his second shot from 270 yards from the light rough to within three-feet of the pin.
Spieth, meanwhile, has not given up making a run at the leaders Sunday.
“On this golf course, the leaders start getting four-to-five footers on greens that are a little inconsistent, who knows what’s going to happen,” he told reporters.
Hend bags Thai title
Scott Hend continued Australia’s impressive run on the European Tour this season by holding off the course record charge of home hope Piya Swangarunporn to win the True Thailand Classic Sunday.
The 42-year-old Queenslander birdied his 17th hole and went on to sign for a four-under-par 68 and 18-under total to edge Piya by one-shot after the unheralded Thai, ranked 798th in the world, threatened an unlikely victory with a blistering 63.
Piya had already made six birdies and an eagle when he rolled in a tricky 15-foot to pick up another shot on the final green and snatch the lead for the first time, drawing a flurry of fist pumps and cheers from the crowd.
But overnight leader Hend quickly responded, rolling in a birdie two on the 14th at Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin where he was runner-up a year ago.
The big hitting Australian, whose previous European Tour win came at the 2014 Hong Kong Open, then drove the green with his tee shot at the 330 metre par-four 17th and walked away with a key birdie after a solid short putt to go ahead for good.
More power hitting saw him find the green in two at the par five last as he took three putts to close out victory at the $1.75 million event and become the fifth different Australian winner in 13 European Tour events this season.
Belgium’s Thomas Pieters (68) finished third on 15-under, with American Peter Uihlein (70) fourth and Swede Pelle Edberg (70) fifth at the event co-sanctioned with the Asian Tour.
