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Stunned leader Matteson pulls clear after back-to-back 61s
2009-10-25
PHOENIX (Reuters) - American Troy Matteson was close to disbelief after charging into a three-stroke lead in Saturday's third round of the Arizona Open in Scottsdale. For the second day in a row, the 29-year-old fired a sizzling nine-under-par 61 on the Raptor Course at Grayhawk Golf Club to take control of the PGA Tour event. Four shots off the pace overnight, Matteson delivered a master class with his pinpoint approach play, recording 10 birdies and a lone bogey for a 16-under total of 194. He birdied four of the last five holes to end another day of unrelenting sunshine three ahead of compatriots Webb Simpson (64) and Chris Stroud (65) and South African Tim Clark (65). "It's just been unbelievable," Matteson told reporters. "I'd not even shot a 61 prior to this week. To shoot two of them, I don't even know what to say. "I'm just making a lot of birdies out there, hitting a lot of good shots and keeping my ball in play. A lot of close opportunities, and that's really the key out here. "It's tough to follow up a good round," added the three-time All-American who turned professional in 2003. "Typically when you shoot eight or nine under, if you can shoot three or four (under) the next day you're pretty happy with yourself." ROOKIE SEASON Matteson, whose only PGA Tour victory came in his rookie season at the 2006 Las Vegas Open, birdied four of the first eight holes to reach the turn in four-under 31. He picked up further shots at the 10 and 11 before making his first bogey in 32 holes at the par-three 13th. Unflustered, he then covered the last five holes in four under. "I've had a lot of easy putts," Matteson said. "If you get easy putts and you're stroking it well, you're gonna make a lot of putts here. It was a pretty easy day for me. "I didn't have any big 10-foot breaking putts, which you can get out here if you hit it on the wrong side of the green. Right now the conditions are just perfect for shooting low." Overnight leaders Greg Owen of Britain and Rickie Fowler of the U.S. both slipped off the pace. Owen, bidding for a maiden PGA Tour title, briefly edged a stroke in front with a birdie at the second before tumbling backwards with five bogeys and a birdie for a 73 and a eight-under total. Fowler, competing in only his second PGA Tour event as a professional, fared a little better by carding a topsy-turvy 69 that featured two double-bogeys and an eagle to end the round at 12 under. (Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by John O'Brien)
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