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Stricker, Baddeley Share Lead

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The Associated Press

Published: September 9, 2007

LEMONT, Ill. - The roar that shook Cog Hill on Saturday could only mean one thing - an eagle from the fairway - and it was loud enough that it could only belong to one player.

Even Tiger Woods turned around.
Steve Stricker holed out with a wedge for eagle on the eighth hole to keep pace with Woods, then he surged ahead with birdie chances on every hole in a tidy round of 7-under 64 that left him tied with Aaron Baddeley in the BMW Championship.

Baddeley birdied his final two holes for a 65 that allowed him to join Stricker at 15-under 198 and play in the final group.

Stricker, who won the first PGA Tour Playoffs event at The Barclays for his first victory in 6 1/2 years, played golf at Illinois and grew up nearby in Wisconsin. Another victory would give him a commanding lead in the chase for the FedEx Cup, with Woods or Phil Mickelson having to win the Tour Championship to catch him.

Baddeley, who won in Phoenix earlier this year, used a 30-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole, followed by an approach into 5 feet at the last, to get into the final group.

Woods never looked more subdued after a 65, but he missed only one fairway and two greens, and figured his putter kept him from one of his best scores of the year.

'I felt like 6 under was the highest score I could have shot,' Woods said. 'But I'm in a good spot going into tomorrow.'

LPGA Shortens Event To 18 Holes

ROGERS, Ark. - The LPGA Tour shortened the rain-soaked NW Arkansas Championship to 18 holes, setting up a bizarre finish today that will be closed to the public.

The tournament originally was scheduled for 54 holes, but it began 4 1/2 hours late Friday. Play was suspended again around 11 a.m. Saturday. All but 32 players had completed the first round when the second delay began - and the remaining golfers were expected back today to finish.

There won't be many people watching them. The public won't have access to the event. Adam Harris, the tournament's marketing and communications coordinator, cited flooding at parking lots and safety hazards at the course as reasons for closing off the tournament.

Stats and money from the event will be unofficial.

NCAA champion Stacy Lewis was atop the leader board after a 7-under 65. She was trying to become the first amateur to win an LPGA Tour event since JoAnne Carner in 1969.

WALKER CUP: At Newcastle, Northern Ireland, Florida junior Billy Horschel and Oklahoma State freshman Rickie Fowler won both their matches as the United States and Great Britain & Ireland each rallied to finish in a 6-6 tie.

PGA EUROPEAN: At Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland, Bradley Dredge shot a 3-under 68 in the third round of the European Masters to take a share of the lead at 13-under 200 with Brett Rumford.

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