Stenson seizes Deutsche Bank lead

Henrik Stenson fired four birdies and an eagle in a six-under par 65 on Sunday to seize the third-round lead in the Deutsche Bank Championship.

The Swede's 13-under total of 200 was one stroke in front of American Rickie Fowler, with American Sean O'Hair and Aussie Matt Jones a further stroke back on 202 after a day when world number one Rory McIlroy and PGA Champion Jason Day were unable to make a move up the leaderboard.

Day, the world number three who came into the tournament with a chance to supplant McIlroy atop the rankings, had a double-bogey, three bogeys and three birdies in a two-over 73 that left him tied for 25th on four-under 209.

McIlroy, playing his second tournament since he was sidelined by an ankle injury in July, remained at 2-over after an even-par 71 at TPC Boston that included three birdies and three-bogeys.

Stenson, runner-up to Day last week at the Barclays, is gunning for a second Deutsche Bank title. He won the event in 2013 on the way to winning the US PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoff title and its $10 million bonus.

He had three birdies on the front nine plus an eagle at the par-four fourth hole, then parred the first eight holes of the back nine before rolling in a tough birdie putt at 18 that gave him the outright lead.

"It's always good to be back at a course where you've performed well and played well," Stenson said. "I'll just try to keep it going."

Fowler carded a 67, saving birdie at the last to stay within one stroke of Stenson.

O'Hair carded a 67 and Jones a 68 for 202. They were one stroke in front of Scotland's Russell Knox, who posted a 68 for 203.

Charley Hoffman, who started the day with a three-shot lead after a second-round 63, fell six adrift after a five-over 76.
Source: AFP