WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – Lexi Thompson set the tone by rallying from four holes down. The rest of the Americans took it from there and restored their dominance in the Solheim Cup

“I was just, like, ‘I just have to go all in and go for it all,”’ Thompson said.

Her U.S. teammates followed her lead and the Americans finished off their most-decisive Solheim Cup victory in over 20 years, beating Europe 16 1/2-11 1/2 on Sunday at Des Moines Golf and Country Club.

Cristie Kerr and Paula Creamer won key matches, and Gerina Piller sealed it with a birdie putt that put her 3 up over Florentyna Parker with three to play in a 4-and-2 victory.

“They just bonded. They believed in each other. They played for the person behind them and in front of them. And they played some amazing golf,” said Juli Inkster, who joined Judy Rankin as the only U.S. captains to win the Solheim Cup twice.

The Americans are 10-5 in the biennial tournament after their biggest win since a 17-11 triumph in 1996 in Wales. They rallied to win in Germany in 2015, and have taken five of the last seven matches.

Kerr beat Mel Reid 2 and 1 for her record-extending 21st point in the competition, and Creamer edged Georgia Hall 1 up to raise her total to 19 1/2 – second on the U.S. career list.

Thompson ended up halving with Anna Nordqvist, and Angel Yin halved with Karine Icher as the teams split the 12 singles matches. Lizette Salas and Danielle Kang also won for the U.S. Salas edged Jodi Ewart Shadoff 1 up, and Kang beat Emily Pedersen 3 and 1.

For Europe, Catriona Matthew beat Stacy Lewis 1 up, Caroline Masson topped Michelle Wie 4 and 2, Charley Hull edged Brittany Lang 1 up, Carlota Ciganda beat Brittany Lincicome 4 and 3, and Madelene Sagstrom defeated Austin Ernst 3 and 2.

“We just got outplayed, no doubt about it,” European captain Annika Sorenstam said. “I’m just so proud of how hard they fought. What can I say? Just congratulate the USA because they played some awesome golf.”

Her team five points down entering the day, Sorenstam tried to keep the mood light by dressing up in a blue and yellow Viking hat and wig and dancing for the cameras before play began.

Nordqvist did her best to set the tone for the Europeans in the opening match, winning the first four holes.

But after a birdie on No. 10, Thompson holed out from 112 yards for eagle on the 11th hole – a shot so impressive that even Nordqvist was compelled to high-five her.

The 22-year-old Thompson followed with an eagle putt on the 15th hole, and a birdie on 16 put her ahead for the first time. Though Nordqvist rallied, earning the half-point by sticking her 154-yard approach on No. 18 within a foot, an American win was inevitable after Thompson’s run.

“To me, that was like six points,” Inkster said. “It’s probably fitting they both got half a point. Both played amazingly. It just shows the heart of her and her determination. You think she’s out of it and then the switch goes off.”

Nordqvist went 3-0-1 during the week to lead the Europeans.

Creamer was 3-1 filling in for the injured Jessica Korda, matching Kang and Salas for the top U.S. records. Creamer kept her celebration muted following Hall’s missed 4-foot par putt on the 18th hole. But this was a huge bounce back event for Creamer after her recent struggles kept her off the U.S. roster until Korda got hurt.

“For Juli to play me four matches, you know – I knew my game was there, but obviously it didn’t look like it was,” Creamer said.

The 47-year-old Matthew was 3-1 after replacing the injured Suzann Pettersen.

Canadian Ben Silverman fired a 6-under-par 65 in the final round of the Web.com Tour’s News Sentinel Open presented by Pilot to move into a tie for seventh at Fox Den Country Club in Knoxville, Tenn.

The Thornhill, Ont., native poured in eight birdies and just two bogeys in the final round shooting his best score of the week and finishing at 14 under par four shots back of winner Talor Gooch (Midwest City, Okla.) who also fired a 65 in the final round to win at 18 under par.

Silverman’s seventh place finish is his fourth top-10 finish of 2017 on the Web.com Tour and comes on the heels of his first career win on the Web.com Tour last week at the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr. Pepper.

With one tournament remaining on the Web.com Tour’s regular season schedule Silverman is 14th on the Order of Merit.

His previous highest finish on the Web.com Tour’s Order of Merit was in 2016 when he was 131st.

Burlington, Ont., native Michael Gligic fired a 2-under-par 69 in the final round to finish in a tie for twelfth.

Calgary’s Ryan Yip started the day in a tie for fourth, but carded a 3-over-par 74 to finish T32.

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Two years ago, the United States staged the biggest singles comeback in Solheim Cup history.

Only the biggest letdown the event has ever seen will keep the Americans from retaining the cup.

The United States took a 10 1/2- 5 1/2 lead over Europe on Saturday, matching its biggest advantage entering the final day.

The Americans took three of the four afternoon fourball matches after splitting the morning foursomes at Des Moines Golf and Country Club. The biennial event concludes Sunday with 12 singles matches.

The U.S. also led 10 1/2-5 1/2 in 1998 and won by four points.

“We’re confident. So we just want to keep it going,” American Austin Ernst said.

Cristie Kerr set a record for career points by an American with 20, teaming with Lexi Thompson to win both of her matches. U.S. captain Juli Inkster held the previous mark with 18 1/2.

Kerr and Thompson beat Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Caroline Masson 5 and 3 in the morning, and topped Georgia Hall and Catriona Matthew 4 and 2 in the afternoon.

In the other U.S. afternoon victories, Brittany Lincicome and Brittany Lang beat Carlota Ciganda and Mel Reid 2 up, and Ernst and Paula Creamer edged Karine Icher and Madalene Sagstrom 2 and 1. Shadoff and Anna Nordqvist beat Lizette Salas and Angel Yin 4 and 2 for Europe’s lone point.

Creamer and Ernst also won in the morning, topping Reid and Emily Pedersen 5 and 3. Europe took the other foursomes, with Nordqvist and Hall beating Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller 2 and 1, and Matthew and Karine Icher defeated Michelle Wie and Danielle Kang 2 and 1.

“I’m ecstatic,” Inkster said. “I think anytime we can split in foursomes that’s a win for us.”

Lincicome started her round with six straight birdies _ and Lang made eagle on No. 7 by holing out from about 100 yards. The Europeans were within a hole of tying the match for much of the back nine, but Lang put her approach on the 18th hole within inches.

“It just seemed like the hole was the size of Texas. It made it easier,” Lincicome said.

Creamer and Ernst never trailed in winning their second matchup of the day.

Kerr holed out from a sand trap on No. 15 for an eagle that essentially sealed the match _ though Matthew missed a long putt that would’ve extended it by less than a foot.

“Lexi had to make some great putts on top of that and I had to make some great putts on top of that,” Kerr said. “We really ham and egged out there. I think that’s why we make such a good team,”

No team has ever rallied from more than four points down to win at either the Solheim Cup or the men’s Ryder Cup.

But Nordqvist, who has yet to lose this week, is hoping to do to the Americans on Sunday what they did to Europe two years ago in Germany.

In those matches at St. Leon-Rot, the U.S. _ infuriated by Suzann Pettersen’s claim that Europe hadn’t conceded a short putt to Alison Lee in the completion of the rain-delayed fourballs _ overcame a 10-6 deficit entering the singles to win 14 1/2-13 1/2.

“We saw what happened in ’15,” Nordqvist said. “If there are matches left, I think there’s still a chance.”

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Henrik Stenson kept his cool when some birdie chances turned into pars. That patience paid off late in his round.

Stenson shot a 4-under 66 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead in the Wyndham Championship.

The 2013 FedEx Cup champion and 2016 British Open winner was at 16-under 194 at Sedgefield with a round left in the PGA Tour’s last regular-season event of the season.

The Swede had four birdies on a five-hole stretch of the back nine to overtake Webb Simpson for sole possession of first place.

“It’s all about how you finish, I guess,” Stenson said. “I came back strongly, great birdies coming home and right where we want to be.”

Simpson, Kevin Na and Ollie Schniederjans were tied for second. Na shot a 65, Schniederjans had a 66 and Simpson – a North Carolina native who won on this course in 2011 – had a 68. Johnson Wagner was 14 under after a 65.

“Any time you’re within two or three of the lead, you know you’ve got a good chance,” Simpson said. “And for more guys on tour, it’s not every week that you have a chance to win. Hopefully, I’m going to take advantage of it and come out and play a good, solid day.”

Stenson was at even par through his first 12 holes.

Then came the birdie binge he capped by sticking his second shot on the par-4 17th some 10 feet from the hole and converting that putt.

He could have ended his round with another one, but pulled his 15-foot birdie putt wide right and settled for par.

Still, his 72-hole score is second-best in tournament play at Sedgefield, surpassed only by Carl Pettersson’s 191 in 2008.

“Obviously, what I’ve done so far is working pretty well, and I’m playing the course the way I think it’s best for me,” Stenson said. “And I just trying to keep on hitting a lot of fairways, and if you do that, you can set up a lot of birdie chances with mid to short irons.”

Simpson – a local favourite who grew up in Raleigh, played in college at nearby Wake Forest and named his third child Wyndham after his first victory on tour came here – shared the 54-hole lead with Ryan Armour at 13 under.

Simpson birdied his first hole, then reeled off 11 consecutive pars before briefly taking sole possession of the lead with birdies on the 13th and 15th holes. He sank a 20-foot birdie putt on No. 13 and two holes later, he settled for birdie after missing a 35-foot eagle putt on No. 15.

Ottawa’s Brad Fritsch shot a 70 for a 7 under total. Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., was 6 under and David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., was 2 under.

Simpson could have caught Stenson on the 18th, but he pulled a 15-foot birdie putt left.

Winless on tour since October 2013, Simpson admitted his drought is “on my mind a little bit,” adding that he’s “very hungry to win again, very hungry to compete week in and week out.”

Schniederjans – a 24-year-old, third-year pro from Georgia Tech – is chasing his first victory on tour and his fifth top-10 finish of the year.

After shooting a 63 on Friday and starting his round two strokes off the lead, he became the first to 16 under with his birdie on the par-5 15th, hitting his second shot into the primary rough but recovering by chipping to 10 feet and converting the putt.

Then came trouble on the next hole. His tee shot on the par-3 16th landed in a low greenside bunker, and he stuck his chip into the rough just above the sand on his way to a bogey that dropped him back a stroke.

Na – who hasn’t won on tour since 2011 – joined Stenson in making a big move on the back nine. He had birdies on Nos. 14, 15 and 17, landing his second shot inside of 10 feet.

“It’s been a while since I won,” he said, “so I think I’m ready.”

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Osceola, Wisconsin’s Charlie Danielson shot a 7-under 64 on Saturday at Hylands Golf Club to take a one-stroke lead through three rounds at the National Capital Open to Support Our Troops, the ninth event of the 2017 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season.

Danielson, a 23-year old former University of Illinois standout, birdied four of his first six holes and ended the day with eight birdies against just one bogey to lead by one shot over Burlington, Ontario’s Blair Hamilton, Dallas, Texas’ Kramer Hickok and Maysville, Kentucky’s Mark Blakefield heading into Sunday.

“I hit a lot of shots close. I got off to a great start and wedged some balls close to where I didn’t have to make many putts, and getting off to a nice start out here is key. I kind of kept it going the rest of the round,” said Danielson.

.@charliegolf24 nearly goes Dr. Chipinski at 18 ?

A closing par gives him a 7-under 64 and the clubhouse lead. pic.twitter.com/zMtHn0Qzuv

— Mackenzie Tour (@PGATOURCanada) August 19, 2017

As a Wisconsinite who went to school in Illinois, Danielson said he’s used to playing his best golf during the summer months and relished the chance to build momentum on the Mackenzie Tour this summer. The first-year Mackenzie Tour member has finished in the top-15 in all three of his starts this season, including a T11 at the Players Cup.

“Coming up to Canada’s no different than what I grew up in my whole life, and even what I played in at college, so I’m used to the midwest weather. It’s all pretty normal for me,” said Danielson.

Blakefield and Hickok, who co-held the 36-hole lead with Quebec’s Raoul Menard, shot matching 3-under 68s, while Hamilton raced out to a 7-under 64 to earn a spot in the final threesome on Sunday, his lowest career round on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada

Now THAT'S a bounce back!@BlairHamilton12 drains the long birdie putt on 17 and gets back to 15-under ?? pic.twitter.com/SRWSvzZAZR

— Mackenzie Tour (@PGATOURCanada) August 19, 2017

Hamilton is making his ninth start of the 2017 season as a member of the Mackenzie Tour and 12th career start overall. The former member of Golf Canada’s National Amateur Team earned conditional status at the 2017 British Columbia Q-School and has made two cuts in 2017, including a T20 finish at the Freedom 55 Financial Open.

“My putter’s kind of been bailing me out all week,” said Hamilton. “I’ve been putting in a lot of work lately, and it’s nice to see some putts fall in, and any time you get hot with the flatstick it makes things fun.”

Danielson was a four-time NCAA All-American at the University of Illinois, including a 1st team selection in 2016. He was named Big Ten Player of the Year in 2016 and was a semi-finalist for both the Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan Awards that season, and later qualified for the Genesis Open on the PGA TOUR by winning the College Showcase qualifier.

He earned conditional status with a T25 finish at the USA East #2 Q-School and has made three starts on the Mackenzie Tour this season. In all three of his starts, he has finished in the top-15, including a season-best T11 finish at the Players Cup. Danielson currently sits 51st on the Order of Merit.

Prior to this week, Danielson’s clubs and baggage were lost during travel, and his parents sent him a backup set composed of other clubs from his home in Wisconsin.

Hickok is in his first season on the Mackenzie Tour and ranks No. 3 on the Order of Merit thanks to a win at the Players Cup and a runner-up at the Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel.

The University of Texas alum is a roommate of two-time major champion Jordan Spieth.

Hickok owns one pro win earlier this year on the Adams Tour and earned Mackenzie Tour status with a T15 finish at the British Columbia Q-School.

"Even though you have your 'C' game you can still play to an 'A' level."

Words of wisdom from @KramerHickok pic.twitter.com/47pk4NhYfY

— Mackenzie Tour (@PGATOURCanada) August 19, 2017

Team Canada Amateur Squad member Jared du Toit is tied for 16th at 9 under par after a 1-under-par 70 in round three.

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Canada’s Ryan Yip fired a 7-under-par 64 in round three of the Web.com Tour’s News Sentinel Open presented by Pilot moving him into a tie for fourth heading into the final round at Fox Den Country Club in Knoxville, Tenn.

The Calgary native poured in seven birdies and was bogey-free in round three moving him to 12 under par and six shots back of leader Ken Looper (Snellville, Ga.) who is 18 under par after 54-holes.

The Team Canada graduate has one top-10 on the Web.com Tour this year, finishing in a tie for ninth at the Chitimacha Louisiana Open presented by NACHER.

Have a day, @RyanYipGolf. ??
A bogey-free 64 in Round 3 moved him into a tie for third @KNSOPEN. pic.twitter.com/TJFhsUoKT6

— Web.com Tour (@WebDotComTour) August 19, 2017

Yip, who is currently ranked 116th on the Web.com Tour’s Order of Merit needs to finish strong this week next week at the final regular season event the WinCo Foods Portland Open presented by Kraft-Heinz to move into the top-25 on the Web.com Tour Order of Merit and advance to the Web.com Finals.

Burlington, Ont., native Michael Gligic had seven birdies and just one bogey en route to firing a 6-under-par 65 and moving into a tie for 12th at 10 under par.

Ben Silverman (Thornhill, Ont.) who recorded his first career Web.com Tour win last week at the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr. Pepper is T28 after 54 holes at 8 under par.

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The favoured Americans found themselves trailing Europe after a sluggish start to the Solheim Cup.

The U.S. settled down on Friday afternoon, pulling away with a record-setting fourball performance.

The United States swept the afternoon fourball matches to take a 5 1/2-2 1/2 lead at Des Moines Golf and Country Club.

Lizette Salas and U.S. newcomer Danielle Kang each won two matches, teaming to beat Carlota Ciganda and Caroline Masson 1 up for the Americans’ lone full point in the morning foursomes, then leading the U.S. to its first ever fourball sweep in the afternoon.

“This is the history we really don’t want. We want the history on Sunday night. We want the Cup,” U.S. captain Juli Inkster said. “We’ve got a lot of work (ahead). I know (European captain) Annika (Sorenstam) is going to get that team fired up.”

"I loved the fans on the 1st tee – they were so happy and having fun and hope they will stay our fans forever" @daniellekang #Solheim2017 pic.twitter.com/xfALfz39yp

— #SolheimCup2017 ???? (@LPGA) August 19, 2017

Salas and rookie Angel Yin routed Ciganda and Emily Pedersen 6 and 5, and Kang and Michelle Wie topped Madelene Sagstrom and Jodi Ewart Shadoff 3 and 1.

In the other fourball matches, Brittany Lincicome and Brittany Lang beat Masson and Florentyna Parker 3 and 2, and Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller edged Charley Hull and Georgia Hall 2 and 1

In the morning foursomes, Americans Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson rallied to halve with Hull and Mel Reid. For Europe, Hall and Anna Nordqvist beat Paula Creamer and Austin Ernst 3 and 1, and Karine Icher and Catriona Matthew topped Lewis and Piller 1 up.

The U.S. would find a lot more success in fourball play – dominating so thoroughly that it never trailed in any of the four matches.

Salas and the 18-year-old Yin set the tone for the afternoon. Salas opened with three straight birdies to win those holes, and wins on consecutive par 5s helped the duo end the match in 13 holes.

The 6-and-5 win was the second-largest in Solheim history.

“Everything kind of fell together,” Salas said.

History! For the first time in Solheim Cup history, Team USA sweeps a session!

Going into Day Two:

USA: 5.5
Europe: 2.5#SolheimCup2017 pic.twitter.com/zq8JbrU8U9

— #SolheimCup2017 ???? (@LPGA) August 19, 2017

Kang’s putting was solid throughout the day – and back-to-back birdie putts sealed her and Wie’s win after 17 holes.

Lincicome and Lang improved to 3-0-0 as a four-ball tandem, and Lewis made a short birdie putt on No. 17 to complete the sweep.

“It was beautiful. Never seen anything prettier,” Lang said about seeing the leaderboard lit up in the Americans’ red colour.

Thompson, fueled by a surge of adrenaline provided by the pro-American crowd singing songs and chanting “USA! USA!” drilled her tee shot on the first hole to set up Kerr’s 12-foot eagle putt to open the three-day, biennial event.

USA USA USA!!!@Stacy_Lewis & @Gerinapiller lock in the USA afternoon SWEEP! #SolheimCup2017 pic.twitter.com/zrpJf1P9h0

— #SolheimCup2017 ???? (@LPGA) August 19, 2017

But the Americans stumbled, and they appeared to be finished after Hull’s long birdie chip on No. 16. Thompson birdied the next hole, and Kerr halved the match with another 12-footer on 18 – pumping her fist in the air before the ball even dropped in.

“It was pretty much a you-know-what sandwich out there,” Kerr said. “I’m glad it ended up the way it did.”

Nordqvist dealt with a case of mononucleosis this summer. But she and Hall, playing in her first Solheim Cup, cruised to the only point that came easy for the Europeans.

Europe will likely need Nordqvist and Hall’s teammates to emulate those performances if it hopes to pull closer to the surging Americans.

After more foursomes and fourballs Saturday, the event will closes with 12 singles matches Sunday.

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Granby, Quebec’s Raoul Menard, Maysville, Kentucky’s Mark Blakefield and Dallas, Texas’ Kramer Hickok reached 11-under par through two rounds at Hylands Golf Club on Friday to share the lead at the National Capital Open to Support Our Troops, the ninth event of the 2017 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season.

Menard, a 25-year old first-year Mackenzie Tour member, birdied his final two holes of the day to match the lead posted earlier by Blakefield and Hickok, the current Order of Merit No. 3. The trio were two shots ahead of New York’s Michael Miller, Chile’s Cristobal Del Solar, Alabama’s Will McCurdy and Mississippi’s Chad Ramey after 36 holes in Ottawa.

“I’m new to the Tour. There’s a lot of guys that have already been here, and it’s new to me. Not only the courses, but getting used to the feeling of the Tour and being comfortable playing here,” admitted Menard, who’s making his seventh start of the year and said he was beginning to settle into his comfort zone. “I’m getting more and more comfortable, and I want to compete. I know if I’m playing well, I can play with anyone.”

Menard has made one cut before this week, a T29 at the Bayview Place Cardtronics Open presented by Times Colonist, and ranks 137th on the Order of Merit.

He played college golf at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte and played in 12 events on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica in 2016, making four cuts.

Hickok, the Players Cup champion earlier this year and the only member of The Five inside the top-10 after two rounds, said he would be boosted this weekend by the experience he’s gained in his eight starts this season.

“You learn from the experience. I’ve learned from winning in Winnipeg, birdieing the last two holes, but I’ve also learned from shooting 2-over in Thunder Bay to lose by one. Unfortunately in this game, you learn more when you lose, and in this game you’re going to lose a lot more than you win. I really just think being in that position and having a chance to win and having that experience has played a big part,” said Hickok.

The University of Texas alum is a roommate of two-time major champion Jordan Spieth.

For Blakefield, a 35-year old veteran of the Web.com Tour and PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, the round was a continuation of Thursday’s outstanding play, when he hit all but two greens and carded a 6-under 65. On Friday, a 5-under 66 gave him a share of the lead in his eighth start on the Mackenzie Tour, where he said he’s relishing the chance to play a full slate of events this summer.

“I’ve been all over. I’ve had Web.com Tour status the last few years, and I’ve been bouncing around doing a lot of Monday Qualifiers, and it’s nice to be up here and to make my schedule and be able to go week-to-week,” said Blakefield.

The University of Kentucky grad earned conditional status on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada this year with a T9 finish at the USA East #1 Q-School this spring and has made five of seven cuts this year, including a season-best T11 finish at the Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel.

Miller, Ramey, McCurdy and Del Solar were two shots off the lead at 9-under, while seven more players, including Freedom 55 Financial Open winner Lee McCoy and Golf Canada National Team member Jared du Toit were a shot further behind at 8-under.

Team Canada Amateur Squad member Austin James is 4 under par after two rounds, good enough to make the cut on the number in his professional debut.

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Ryan Armour shot a career-best 9-under 61 on Friday for a share of the lead with Webb Simpson after two rounds at the Wyndham Championship.

Armour and Simpson were at 13-under 127 halfway through the PGA Tour’s final event of the regular season. Simpson shot a 64.

After leading early in the round Henrik Stenson finished a stroke behind them after a 66. Ollie Schniederjans and Vaughn Taylor and were 11. Schniederjans shot 63, Taylor had a 66.

Solo leader @WyndhamChamp:@HenrikStenson pic.twitter.com/UDsy7Zjzc8

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 18, 2017

First-round leader Matt Every followed his 61 with a 72 to slip six strokes off the lead.

The field at Sedgefield Country Club is once again full of players trying to force their way off the bubble and qualify for the post-season. The top 125 players on the points list earn berths at The Northern Trust next week in New York.

At No. 187 on the list, Armour isn’t even close to the bubble.

“Could turn your life around,” Armour said. “I had some goals at the beginning of the week. I knew where I stood and, you know, right now the goals are attainable.”

The 41-year-old who has yet to win on tour and has bounced between the big tour and the Web.com Tour throughout his 14-year professional career, had nine birdies – five on his first nine holes, then four in a row on Nos. 5-8 – to quickly climb the leaderboard.

?????????

That's how many birdies Ryan Armour used to take the lead. pic.twitter.com/qre1Ofxbhd

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 18, 2017

His round was two strokes better than his previous best of 63 nine years ago in Milwaukee.

Ottawa’s Brad Fritsch (66) is tied for 19th at 7 under, David Hearn (68) of Brantford, Ont., is tied for 37th at 5 under and Nick Taylor (68) of Abbotsford, B.C., is in a group at 44th at 4 under.

Simpson, a North Carolina native who won here in 2011 and named his third child Wyndham, put himself in position to contend for his first victory since 2014.

He had four birdies on the first six holes of his back nine, pulling even with Armour at 13 under after his birdie on the par-5 15th.

“Keep making birdies, stay aggressive and know that there’s plenty of good golfers behind me,” Simpson said. “I got to keep the hammer down.”

Stenson, who started on the back nine, offset his lone bogey of the round – he missed a 15-foot par putt on the par-4 18th – with three birdies during the four-hole span between Nos. 4-7.

“The game plan is there,” he said. “I got the set-up in the bag to give me those numbers off the tee that we need and it’s just about going out there and playing, continue making birdies and giving myself birdie chances. It’s a low scoring golf course … keep it going.”

Among bubble players, No. 125 Geoff Ogilvy played his way to the weekend late in his round.

He's not going home yet. pic.twitter.com/C3815TXhtK

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 18, 2017

He had birdies on five of his final six holes to move to 4 under for the tournament – good enough to help him beat the cut line of 3 under.

And No. 141 Johnson Wagner had the shot of the tournament so far, with an albatross on the par-5 fifth, using a 5-iron to hole out his 215-yard second shot from the right fairway. It was the first double-eagle at the tournament since Fabian Gomez had one on No. 15 in 2011.

“I had a bunch of family that’s up by the green and they started going bananas,” Wagner said. “Pretty clear it had gone in.”

Wagner shot a 64 to move to 9 under.

Some others weren’t so fortunate: No. 126 Daniel Summerhays was at even par while No. 126 Cameron Tringale was 1 under.

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Canada’s Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., shares some expert tips to help you with long-range putting.

Watch her perform in person this summer at the Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club from Aug. 21-27 – tickets are available here.