Date: September 23, 2012
Author: Omnisport

Snedeker, Rose share Championship lead

Brandt Snedeker carded a bogey-free 64 to share the lead with Justin Rose after the third round of the Tour Championship in Atlanta. Snedeker managed three birdies on both the front and back nines as he finished with a six-under 64 on Saturday to move to eight under for the tournament and rise nine spots to a tie for first. England&aposs Rose joined Snedeker on eight under thanks to a two-under round of 68 with the 32-year-old birdying the ninth and 11th holes. Rose has an outside chance of winning the FedEx Cup but would need Rory McIlroy to finish 17th or worse at the Tour Championship, as well as other results to go his way. When Snedeker reached the clubhouse he shared the lead with both Rose and Jim Furyk but the latter triple-bogeyed the 17th hole to plummet to a tie for fourth. Snedeker, who is fifth on the FedEx Cup Standings, can still win the overall title if he triumphs at the East Lake Golf Club. Ryan Moore moved into third position in the penultimate round of the Tour Championship with a 65, including three straight birdies to complete the front nine. But the 30-year-old American gave up a chance to be within one shot of Snedeker and Rose when he bogeyed the 17th hole to drop back to six under overall. McIlroy, Bubba Watson and Furyk are next on the leaderboard at five under, while Tiger Woods, Robert Garrigus, Matt Kuchar and Bo Van Pelt are all a further shot back. McIlroy led the overall FedEx Cup standings before the Tour Championship with Woods in second place. Nick Watney sat in third position but is out of the running as he is nine over after three rounds at the East Lake Golf Club, while Phil Mickelson and Snedeker rounded out the top five. Mickelson is tied for 20th on two over for the tournament. It hasn&apost been a great tournament for the Australians with Adam Scott (one over) and John Senden (three over) well off the pace.