Ernie Els switches putters and improves his chances at the Bridgestone Invitational.
Ernie Els had plenty of opportunities to accept the cheers of the gallery on Saturday, pushing his way into contention with a 6-under 64 in the third round.Bill Lubinger and Tim Rogers
Plain Dealer Reporters
AKRON, Ohio -- Ernie Els figured a change would do him good. It has.
Els, who travels with two Calloway Odyssey putters, wasn't pleased with the speed of his putts through the first two rounds. So he switched to the slightly smaller but heavier of the two for Saturday's third round of the Bridgestone Invitational, and the move paid off.
Els shot the third-best round of the day, a 6-under 64, which lifted him to a three-way tie for fourth at 7 under, two strokes back heading into Sunday's final round.
Els birdied four holes on the back nine, against just one bogey. Praise be the putter.
"The one I went with today has got a little more pop on the ball, comes off a little bit quicker," he said. "I felt like I had a bit better speed."
After sinking a birdie putt from about 22 feet on the par-3 seventh, his confidence in the club carried the day. He finished with 25 putts, compared to 29 in each of the first two rounds.
"I haven't made any putts all week," he said, "so when I made that one, I felt the hole was a bit bigger."
Els finished with birdies on 17 and 18.
"Ernie might just win this thing tomorrow," a fan marveled after Els' picture-perfect drive on 18.
If that happens, it would break a pattern. Els, whose 64 was his best ever at the Bridgestone, has finished no higher than 22nd in the last five years here.
Blanket coverage: Paul Malesick was relaxing on a blanket with his wife, Kim, and their daughter, Jennifer, when Luke Donald's approach shot on the third hole sailed left of the green, drilling the Firestone member in the chest.
Donald's ball landed on their blanket, requiring a PGA official's ruling.
"Here you are, sir; sorry about that," Donald said, signing a Mizuno glove for the Jackson Township resident.
"Ever hit a ball off a blanket before?" a kid asked as they waited and waited for an official to arrive.
"Just give it a shake," offered Donald's playing partner Padraig Harrington, mimicking the old tablecloth trick.
The judge marked the spot with a tee, removed the blanket and had Donald drop from there, where he chipped to within eight feet of the hole before settling for a bogey 5.
Don't blink: Retief Goosen's second-round lead vanished quickly. The South African posted a triple-bogey 7 on the first hole after a beautiful drive. His approach shot fell short, then he chipped over the green. Goosen was 3-over for the round, slipping into a tie for 16th at 4 under.
"You always struggle to find your rhythm after that," he said.
Dress me up: Rickie Fowler has been the most colorfully dressed player in the tournament. On Friday, he wore a purple hat, with a purple shirt, purple and white checked pants and purple and white shoes. On Saturday he wore a lime green hat, matching shirt, white pants and green and white shoes. The plan called for an orange-based ensemble today. Go Browns.
Eagle brigade: Five players eagled the second hole on Saturday, bringing the total number to seven on that hole for the tournament. The eagles landed for Sean O'Hair, Paul Casey, Billy Haas, Troy Matteson and Steve Stricker on Saturday, following Robert Karlsson and Ryan Palmer.
Tough enough: The fourth hole is traditionally the most difficult. But holes 9 and 18 gave the field the most trouble Saturday. On average, the golfers scored .238 over par on each.