NORTON, Mass. – Chris Kirk made his first U.S. team and the International team will have three new players for the Presidents Cup.

The Deutsche Bank Championship was the final qualifying event for determining 10 automatic spots on both teams. There were a few possibilities going into the final round Monday at the TPC Boston, but ultimately no changes.

The next step is for both captains to announce two wild-card selections on Tuesday. Bill Haas finished 11th in the U.S. standings and is getting most of the attention because his father, Jay, is the American captain.

Any other year, he might seem like a logical choice.

“If it’s viewed as a penalty to be his son, then that’s unfair,” Haas said. “Would I be thought of as a good choice if he wasn’t my dad? And if you say, `Yes,’ then I don’t think he should think differently because I’m his son. … It would be amazing to be in the team where my dad is the captain. But I would say it would be amazing if I was in the team with Fred Couples. Just to be part of that team would be unbelievable, to have him be the captain. It’s just cherry on top and something that we would always share.

“But if it doesn’t happen, I totally get it.”

Kirk, who had been out for two months with a hand injury, held down the No. 10 spot. He was assured of making his first team unless Charley Hoffman had won, and Hoffman finished four shots back in third place. The U.S. team was based on FedEx Cup points.

Anirban Lahiri of India, Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand and South Korean-born Danny Lee, who grew up in New Zealand, will be making their Presidents Cup debuts Oct. 8-11 when the matches go to South Korea.

The International team is determined by the world ranking.

Matt Jones of Australia was poised to bump Lee out of the No. 10 spot when he made the turn in the final round of the Deutsche Bank. If he finished alone in third, he would have moved past Lee in the ranking. Jones hit into a hazard on No. 10 and made double bogey, and he made another double bogey on No. 12 to plunge down the leaderboard. That was his last mistake, and he finished in a five-way tie for fourth.

Lee still had to sweat it out. Even though he was ahead of Steven Bowditch in the ranking, the Australian would have passed him in the ranking if Lee finished out of the top 40. Lee made eight bogeys and a double bogey, but managed enough birdies for a 77. He made a 3-foot par putt on the 18th to make the team with one shot to spare.

From the shores of Lake Geneva to the fairways of Rio de Janeiro, the world’s top women golfers had a taste of what to expect in 2016 when they paid a visit to the Olympic Museum and IOC Headquarters ahead of the Evian Championship.

Seven golfers from five continents, all with aspirations of going to the 2016 Rio Olympics, played a nearest to the pin contest before taking a guided tour of the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland and posing in front of the Olympic Flame.

Shanshan Feng (China), Julieta Granada (Paraguay), Fabienne In-Albon (Switzerland), Caroline Masson (Germany), Paula Reto (South Africa), Alena Sharp (Canada) and Maria Uribe (Colombia) were all inspired to realise their own Olympic dreams as they learned about past records and heroes.

Staged at two editions of the Games (Paris 1900 and St Louis 1904), golf is returning to the Olympic programme in 2016 after a 112-year absence. To mark this event, the International Golf Federation (IGF) Executive Director Antony Scanlon announced that The Olympic Museum will devote an exhibition to golf with free admission from 9 December 2015 to 31 January 2016, where visitors can learn everything about the sport before the upcoming Games.

After the contest and tour, several players met the International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach at the IOC Headquarters to discuss their hopes for when golf returns to the Olympic Games next August. President Bach insisted on hitting a few chip shots with the players in the garden afterwards and said: “I really enjoyed trying golf but the passion was greater than the performance!”

World number eight, Shanshan Feng, who is one of China’s brightest medal prospects, commented: “It was really great to learn more about the history of the Olympic Games and it has certainly inspired me to go for a medal! The Olympics is so popular in China and I am determined to represent my country with pride.”

Julieta Granada, who is Paraguay’s representative on the current Olympic Ranking, commented: “As I’m from South America I’ve got extra incentive to perform well in Rio. As well as competing, I’m looking forward to the carnival atmosphere at the greatest show on earth.”

Fabienne In-Albon, who is poised to represent Switzerland, commented: “Representing my country in the Olympics has been a dream since I was a little girl. Now I have the chance to make this dream become a reality so I’m working very hard every day because I’m sure next year is going to fly by.”

Germany’s Caroline Masson, who won the nearest to the pin contest, commented: “It was a privilege to sit down with President Bach and the IOC staff and it was great to hear how much support golf has from the IOC in its return to the Games. I’m working really hard to make sure I’m in Rio next year.”

South African Paula Reto commented: “I always watched the Olympics growing up in South Africa so it’s going to be fantastic to compete and I will do everything I can to play well.”

Canadian Alena Sharp commented: “To represent my country and compete for an Olympic medal would be an absolute honour and I’m going to work hard to achieve my goals.”

Maria Uribe from Colombia commented: “For me, nothing will beat playing in the 2016 Olympics in my home continent, South America. I can’t wait for golf to return to the Games in Brazil after a 112-year absence and I’m sure the worldwide interest in golf will grow massively as a result.”

After their inspirational visit, the players took the short boat ride back across the lake from Lausanne, Switzerland, to Evian, France, which is hosting the final Major Championship of 2015. With less than a year to go until the next Games, watch the players compete in the Evian Championship and support them on the road to Rio in 2016.

The Golf in Schools program has a fresh new look for 2015/16.

It starts with updated curriculum, resulting from a partnership between Golf Canada, the PGA of Canada and the University of Ottawa to incorporate life skills into the learning resource that accompanies each Golf in Schools kit.

The new life skills component of the program was created from in-depth research of the leading scientific literature behind delivering life skills through sport. Based on this research, the University of Ottawa identified the importance of both intrapersonal and interpersonal life skills involved in golf:

Each life skill is carefully integrated throughout all lesson plans included in the Learning Resources for elementary, high school and the newly introduced intermediate program for grades 6–8. Developed by Physical Health Education (PHE) Canada, the Learning Resources are tailored to help teachers deliver lessons seamlessly, regardless of prior golf knowledge.

Also new for the fall of 2015, Golf in Schools has launched a brand new website (golfinschools.ca) and welcomed ambassador Graham DeLaet, Canada’s top-ranked PGA TOUR golfer.

Another new layer to the program—introduced in the spring of 2015—called the Golf in Schools Professional Visitation program, provides a grant for PGA of Canada professionals to conduct a visit to nearby schools registered in the program. Through the visit, PGA of Canada professionals offer guidance and expert golf advice to both students and teachers while also providing an avenue to pursue golf further should they wish to do so.

Alternatively, the CN Future Links Field Trip program provides a grant to bring a bus-full of students from a registered Golf in Schools site to practise on the grounds of a nearby CN Future Links facility.

In order to be eligible for the Golf in Schools Professional Visit or the CN Future Links Field Trip program, PGA of Canada professionals must be at an active CN Future Links facility and the school must be a registered Golf in Schools site.

To learn how to get involved with Golf in Schools, please visit www.golfinschools.ca

NORTON, Mass. – Rickie Fowler delivered all the right shots Monday at the Deutsche Bank Championship, and then he delivered some champagne.

He stood near the wood railing overlooking a dozen rows of reporters, hoisting an empty bottle in one hand and a microphone in the other.

“Let’s finish off the year right,” Fowler said.

He certainly showed he is capable after a tense duel with Henrik Stenson at the TPC Boston.

Trailing by three shots early on the back nine, Fowler rolled in a 40-foot putt on the 14th hole to pull within one and then seized control when Stenson hit a towering tee shot that came down short and into the water for double bogey on the par-3 16th.

That combination sent Fowler to another big win. He closed with a 3-under 68 for a one-shot victory that assured him of a spot in the top five at the Tour Championship and a clear shot at the $10 million bonus in the FedEx Cup.

Fowler won The Players Championship in a three-hole playoff in May. He won the Scottish Open with three birdies on the last four holes.

“Being in those positions before, I definitely felt very calm out there,” he said. “I knew what I was trying to do. Knew what I had to do. And was very much ready to do it.”

Fowler moved to No. 5 in the world, not quite part of the “Big Three” this year of Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Jason Day, but perhaps on the cusp of it.

“They’ve clearly played the best out of anyone over the past few months to couple of years,” Fowler said. “So I’m trying to be a small fourth thrown in there. But there’s a lot of other really good young players playing well right now, as well.”

Stenson was a runner-up in a FedEx Cup playoff event for the second straight week, and this one figures to sting.

He holed a 15-foot birdie putt on No. 10 for a three-shot lead. And when Fowler hit a bold 5-wood to 10 feet for birdie on No. 11 for a two-shot swing, the Swede answered with a 35-foot birdie on the 12th to restore the cushion to two shots.

It all changed quickly and dramatically on the par-3 16th.

“I obviously pulled the wrong club on 16 and was trying to get the most out of a 7-iron into the wind and ballooned that one a little bit and that was the crucial mistake. Making double there was really a killer,” Stenson said. “I tried to get those two shots back or at least one to force a playoff on the last two holes and couldn’t manage to do it.”

The final hour was every bit as tense as The Players Championship in May, except instead of five players having a chance to win, this was a duel with Stenson the entire back nine. Fowler didn’t make any birdies after his long putt on the 14th, but he didn’t have to. Where he thrived was off the tee and his iron play into the greens. Swinging freely, he was never really out of position until he went just long of the green on the par-5 closing hole with his second shot.

He played it safe with a putter to 10 feet, putting pressure on Stenson to the very end.

Fowler finished at 15-under 269 and moved to No. 3 in the FedEx Cup behind Day and Spieth, with Stenson at No. 4 and Bubba Watson at No. 5.

Charley Hoffman bounced back from a 76 to close with a 67 and finish alone in third.

One of the loudest cheers was for a player who had no chance to win. William McGirt was on the verge of being eliminated from the FedEx Cup when he holed a 7-iron from the fairway on No. 17 for eagle. A par on the 18th hole allowed him to sneak into the top 70 and advance to the third playoff event north of Chicago in two weeks.

Hunter Mahan kept his streak going by closing with a 70 to tie for fourth, moving him from No. 91 to No. 52. Mahan is the only player who has never missed a FedEx Cup playoff event since this series began in 2007. Jerry Kelly made birdie on the last hole for a 72 to get into the top 70. Keegan Bradley also got in.

Two other players imploded on the back nine to end their season.

Kevin Streelman appeared to be safe in the top 70 until he shot 42 on the back nine for a 77. Carlos Ortiz of Mexico had four straight birdies and was making a late bid for Chicago until he took triple bogey on No. 9 and then shot 41 on the back nine for a 71.

There were no changes to the Presidents Cup, though Matt Jones of Australia squandered a great chance. He only needed third place to make the International team, but he made two double bogeys in three holes to start the back nine and finished in a five-way tie for fourth.

Stenson now has been runner-up four times this year without winning, and this was every bit as good a chance to win as Bay Hill.

“It’s in the right direction, for sure,” Stenson said. “Always disappointing when you can’t finish the job when you’re in good position. But you have to take the positives.”

NORTON, Mass. – One 3-wood quickly put Henrik Stenson into the mix at the Deutsche Bank Championship. Another one helped to give him the lead.

Stenson drilled a 3-wood on the 298-yard fourth hole at the TPC Boston that hit into the bank and rolled up to 20 feet for an eagle that allowed him to bolt up the leaderboard. The Swede showed off his supreme strength on the par-5 closing hole with a 3-wood off the tee that left him only a 6-iron into the green for a two-putt birdie that gave him a 6-under 65 and a one-shot lead over Rickie Fowler.

Five shots behind going into the third round Sunday, Stenson made up that deficit in just seven holes. He can only hope to make up that kind of ground on a winless season during the final month of the FedEx Cup playoffs.

“It’s a good time to start playing well,” said Stenson, who was at 13-under 200. “It’s a big event and lots to play for. I’m happy with the progress I made and it gave me a little bit of a confidence boost last week that I had a nice tournament. I hope I can have another one here tomorrow.”

Fowler had a 67, missing out on a chance to share the lead when his 5-iron into the 18th was too strong and he had to scramble to salvage a par.

Sean O’Hair (67) and Matt Jones (68) were two shots behind.

They all took advantage of a collapse by Charley Hoffman, who blazed his way to victory at the TPC Boston five years ago. After opening with a birdie, Hoffman put his second shot into the hazard at the par-5 second hole and made bogey, and it slipped away from there. He shot 41 on front, had five bogeys in a seven-hole stretch and didn’t make another birdie until his last hole for a 76.

Jordan Spieth was headed for a return to No. 1, and he’s not even here after missing his second straight cut.

PGA champion Jason Day would have to win the Deutsche Bank to go to No. 1 in the world, and the Australian finally hit the wall. Day made a double bogey on the reachable par-4 fourth hole and never quite recovered. He had a 73, his first round over par since closing with a 74 at the U.S. Open in June.

“There’s no excuse for poor playing,” said Day, who was nine shots out of the lead. “I just wish I had a little bit more energy.”

Rory McIlroy needs to finish 10th alone to remain No. 1, but he had to birdie his last two holes for a 71. He was 15 shots out of the lead. McIlroy, playing for only the second time since the U.S. Open because of an ankle injury, had made only nine birdies in 54 holes.

The biggest move might have been Hunter Mahan, the only player to never miss a FedEx Cup playoff event since the series began in 2007. Mahan faces elimination this week as only the top 70 advance to the third tournament, and he came in at No. 91. But he found a swing key on the practice, holed some putts and shot a 64 to bolt up the leaderboard into a tie for 11th. He has a chance to at least advance to Chicago in two weeks.

Stenson, however, grabbed most of the attention. He won the Deutsche Bank two years ago, and converted that into a $10 million bonus when he dominated the field at East Lake to win the Tour Championship. The runner-up finish (by six shots) to Day at The Barclays put Stenson in good shape for the FedEx Cup, and this could only help.

It’s a big course that favors big hitters, and Stenson is smashing it at the moment.

He made his move with a 7-iron into 6 feet on the par-3 third, and then drilling a 3-wood that climbed onto the green at the par-4 fourth hole and settled 20 feet away, setting up an eagle. He closed out the front nine with two more birdies, and Fowler was keeping pace behind him.

Stenson kept his cool on the back nine as the putts stopped falling. He missed four good birdie chances from 12 feet or in, but after another big 3-wood off the tee at the 18th, he hit 6-iron to the middle of the green for his two-putt birdie and the lead.

Fowler chipped through the 18th green and his ball got hung up in the rough. He did well to get up-and-down for a par to get in the last group with Stenson.

“He’s a strong, powerful player,” Fowler said. “And obviously, he’s playing well this week to be in the position he’s in. I’m looking forward to the two of us playing well, go head-to-head and seeing if one of us will be the one to come out on top.”

Still in range was Russell Knox, who hit one of the best shots of the week behind the 18th green. From about the spot Fowler was in, Knox drilled a pitch into the hill to kill the speed and watching it trickle down the slope to 3 feet for birdie and a 68 to get within three shots of the lead.

Dundas, Ontario’s Christopher Ross shot an 8-under 64 on Sunday at Wildfire Golf Club to win The Wildfire Invitational presented by PC Financial, earning his first Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada victory.

The 28-year old reached 25-under for the tournament with his second straight round of 64 to win by four over England’s David Skinns. Ross moves to eighth on the Mackenzie Tour Order of Merit with two events to go in the season.

“It’s an amazing feeling. I’ve been waiting a long time to win on a big tour like the Mackenzie Tour, and to be a winner on it right now is surreal,” said Ross, a graduate of Eastern Michigan University.

Ross began the week 61^st on the money list and trailed no. 60, the cutoff to get into the season-ending Freedom 55 Financial Championship and retain exempt status on Tour for next year, by $1. With that goal accomplished, his focus turns to the season’s remaining two events and the opportunity to earn status on the Web.com Tour next season.

“I have two more big weeks to go, and to be inside the top five is obviously your big goal. To go from 61^st just to get into the season-ending event, honestly, I really think I set a mark, and maybe I can carry it over,” said Ross.

The win represents a family celebration for Ross, who had wife Stephanie caddying for him all week and counted his mother Janet and 4-year old daughter Sam among his biggest fans all week.

“Any win is special, but to have your family out there, it’s a really, really amazing feeling. The third round was big for me. To look over every time you make a putt and have your little girl give you a thumbs-up, it’s just something that’s bigger than golf. Make it or miss it, I’m still the same guy. That was a surreal feeling,” said Ross.

Ross’ father Stephen, a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and former Golf Canada Executive Director, recently underwent bypass surgery and was unable to attend, but was following closely online according to Chris.

“It means a lot. He’s the one that brought me to play golf,” said an emotional Ross after the win.

Ross began the day one shot off the 54-hole lead held by David Skinns and Chase Marinell, but quickly took control of the tournament with a 4-under 32 on the front nine, then birdies at the 10^th and 11^th holes to take the lead by two. While his pursers were unable to mount a charge, Ross blew open the tournament with birdies on 14 and 16 to build a five-shot lead.

“Definitely I could feel it. I saw the leaderboard on number six, and it was jam-packed. I just said ‘here we go, we just gotta go do our thing.’ To separate myself after 11 was huge,” said Ross.

A two-putt par at the last was all that remained, and when the final putt dropped, Ross was swarmed and embraced by family and friends as the celebration began.

Skinns notched career-best finish with his solo second effort, while Spaun and Pan sharing third place made waves on the race for The Five and status on the Web.com Tour next season. Spaun extended his lead with $88,534 in earnings, a new PGA TOUR-era record, while Pan vaulted into third place with $49,806.

SPAUN BOOSTS LEAD IN THE FIVE

With a T3 finish, J.J. Spaun extended his lead atop the Order of Merit on Sunday. Below are The Five through The Wildfire Invitational presented by PC Financial (bold denotes Canadian):

1. J.J. Spaun – $88,534
2. Sam Ryder – $56,538
3. Albin Choi – $49,806
4. C.T. Pan – $46,948
5. Drew Weaver – $46,182

ROSS WINS FREEDOM 55 FINANCIAL TOP CANADIAN AWARD

With a total score of 25-under, Dundas, Ontario’s Christopher Ross claimed Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Week honours on Sunday along with a $2,500 prize. Each week, the top Canadian on the leaderboard will earn the award, with the top Canadian on the Order of Merit at season’s end earning the Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year and a $25,000 prize.

Notes:

• Weather: 28 degrees Celsius (36 degrees with Humidity). Sunny. Winds 8 km/h.
• Ross’ 25-under total is the lowest on the Mackenzie Tour this season and the second lowest of the PGA TOUR-era on the Mackenzie Tour.
• Ross is the fourth Canadian to win on the Mackenzie Tour this season, the largest number of Canadians to win in a season since 2012.
• Ross is the second straight player to win The Wildfire Invitational after entering the week 61^st on the Order of Merit. Last year, Nate McCoy vaulted from No. 61 to No. 8.
• J.J. Spaun’s $88,534 in earnings is the new highest single-season money total of the PGA TOUR-era.
• Spaun’s T3 finish was his fourth top-five finish of the season. Spaun has yet to finish outside the top-20 in nine starts on Tour this year.
• Spaun’s $31,996 lead atop the Order of Merit means even if No. 2 Sam Ryder wins next week, Spaun will retain the top spot.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Norway’s Caroline Westrup won the Symetra Tour’s Sioux Falls GreatLife Challenge by two strokes Sunday for her first professional title.

The 29-year-old former Florida State player won four weeks after applying for a job as an assistant college coach and coming close to quitting professional golf.

“This is everything I have ever dreamed of and more,” Westrup said. “Finally, finally, I can say that I won my first professional event.”

Westrup closed with a 2-under 69 for a 12-under 272 total at Willow Run.

She earned a tour-record $31,500 to jump from 56th to 14th on the money list with $41,846. The top 10 at the end of the season will receive 2016 LPGA Tour cards.

“This is a life changer for sure,” Westrup said. “I put myself in good position to earn my full LPGA Tour card for next year.”

Westrup missed the cuts in her previous three starts.

“I was almost to the point where I wanted to quit and start a new career,” Westrup said. “When I went home, I was able to practice, workout and spend time with friends and family. It’s funny, a lot of people told me that I was going to go out and win the next event and here I am today. It’s crazy thinking a couple weeks ago I was going to quit golf. Thank god I didn’t.”

She birdied the final hole, hitting her approach to 6 feet.

“I was shaking so much over that putt, I was really nervous,” Westrup said. “I just told myself not to hit it hard. … I just couldn’t have been more happy when it went in.”

Sweden’s Dani Holmqvist was second after a 70. She earned $19,376 to jump from 17th to sixth on the money list with $50,970.

Italy’s Giulia Molinaro shot a 70 to finish third at 9 under. She earned $14,102 to take the money lead with $66,732, more than enough to earn an LPGA Tour card.

“The LPGA is where I want to be and that is where every golfer wants to be,” Molinaro said. “It is an incredible stage with incredible tournaments with the best in the world. A huge part of who I am is what I learned on this tour.”

The $210,000 purse also was the largest in tour history.

Nicole Zhang of Calgary led the Canadian contingent with a final-round 5-under 66 to reach 7-under for the tournament and a share of sixth place. Samantha Richdale and Augusta James finished T14 at 4-under 280 while Maude-Aimee Leblanc, Anne-Catherine Tanguay and Sara-Maude Juneau followed at T20.

MOSCOW – Lee Slattery bounced back from an erratic start to shoot a 2-under 69 Sunday that was enough for a one-shot victory at the Russian Open.

The Englishman entered the final round with the lead but two bogeys on the front nine left him temporarily two shots behind Argentina’s Estanislao Goya. However, Slattery birdied three of his last eight holes, including a chip in from the rough on the 17th, while Goya bogeyed the 13th and 15th.

“That chip in was massive,” said Slattery, who narrowly missed out on a European Tour card for this season. “Having to ask a lot of promoters for invites, it’s been a difficult year. I forgot what it was like to write letters. I’ve written a lot this year and it’s just nice to be able to finish the year off like this with a win.”

Slattery finished with a 15-under total of 269 as he secured his second career European Tour win, and first since 2011.

Goya was second after a 68, with defending champion David Horsey of England (68) another shot back in third following a bogey-free round. Northern Ireland’s Michael Hoey was one of four players to share fourth place on 12 under.

South African Jake Roos set a course record with an eight-under 63, hauling him up the leaderboard from 34th overnight to joint eighth. In damp conditions at the Skolkovo Golf Club, the start of play was delayed by two hours due to fog.

Golf has become increasingly popular in recent years with the Russian elite, and the tournament attracted a small but well-heeled crowd, some with bodyguards in tow.

Andrei Pavlov pleased the spectators by becoming the first Russian ever to make the cut at a European Tour event, but he could not keep up the same form for the final two rounds, finishing 71st on 13 over.

NORTON, Mass. – Jordan Spieth spent most of the summer chasing history. Now he’s chasing the cut line, and losing the battle.

When he walked off the 18th green Saturday at the Deutsche Bank Championship after his only birdie of the second round, Spieth had a 3-over 74 and missed the cut in back-to-back events for the first time in his career.

He has gone 61 consecutive holes without being under par.

Coming off a year in which he won the Masters and U.S. Open and challenged in the final hour of the other two majors, this was a strange sensation.

“Whatever is going on … normally my mental game is a strength of mine. And it’s something I feel like I have an advantage over other players on,” Spieth said. “These past two weeks it was a weakness for me.”

Charley Hoffman, who five years ago closed with a 62 to win on the TPC Boston, made birdie on half of his holes for a 63 that gave him a three-shot lead over Brendon de Jonge after 36 holes. Rickie Fowler (67) and British Open champion Zach Johnson (65) were another shot behind.

The second FedEx Cup playoff event nearly lost the top two players in the world.

Rory McIlroy, who returned to No. 1 last week without playing, needed a par on the final hole to make the cut on the number. He got up-and-down from a bunker and made birdie for a 74 and made it with one shot to spare.

PGA champion Jason Day kept alive his hopes to be No. 1 for the first time with another 68 that left him in a tie for 10th, six shots behind.

It was the fourth straight round over par for Spieth, his longest such streak since he went five consecutive rounds at the British Open and PGA Championship two years ago.

“Who knows what’s going through his head? It’s difficult to say what he’s feeling, what he’s going through emotionally,” said Day, who has played with Spieth the opening two rounds both weeks. “Because it is a lot of pressure for a 22-year-old. It’s very, very hard to reach that No. 1 position and hold it there.”

Even more strange that Spieth leaving early in consecutive weeks is this possible scenario in the world ranking: Spieth still could return to No. 1 after the tournament if Day doesn’t win and McIlroy finishes out of the top 10.

Whatever is going through Spieth’s mind, it didn’t help that he showed up at the TPC Boston already 16 shots out of the lead.

Hoffman made a tap-in birdie on the par-3 11th round early in his second round, poured in four putts from the 12-foot range and three more from inside 5 feet. He traded a bogey with a birdie at the end to reach 12-under 130.

The biggest difference from his previous low round at the TPC Boston was that he left with the trophy. This time, he still has two more rounds before the Labor Day finish.

“It was a little different five years ago,” Hoffman said. “I came from a decent back, so I didn’t have to deal with the lead. Anytime you are in the lead you put a lot of pressure on yourself. And obviously I’ve got to deal with that tonight. … Just try to keep doing what I’m doing, making a lot of putts and hitting a decent amount of fairways for me, which is a nice combo.”

McIlroy is playing for only the second time since the U.S. Open because of an ankle injury, and much like the PGA Championship, his main problem was scoring. He had a pair of three-putt bogeys on the back nine as he started losing shots at an alarming rate until a key drive on the par-5 closing hole set up a birdie.

“I think it shows that I haven’t really played much competitive golf,” McIlroy said. “When I’ve given myself opportunities to get it close, then I’m not making putts. And I think I’ve had three or four three-putts in two days and just haven’t really made anything. So it’s been a bit of a struggle, more mentally, because I’ve just been trying to get something going. And there’s nothing happening.”

Spieth at least assured of being among the top five in the FedEx Cup going into the Tour Championship for a clear shot at the $10 million prize. And he has one more event at Conway Farms outside Chicago in two weeks before that.

“I need to walk with some cockiness in my step these next two tournaments,” Spieth said. “I don’t think I have to fix much in my game other than really work hard on my putting into Conway and then mentally I can control that. I can control walking with the cockiness, whether things are going good or bad, and that’s what you have to have inside the ropes. And I’ll bring it when we get to Chicago.”

At least six players won’t get that far because they were assured of finishing outside the top 70 who advance to the next playoff event.

David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., finished at 3-over 74 after posting a first-round 73.

England’s David Skinns and Florida’s Chase Marinell finished at 18-under through three rounds at Wildfire Golf Club on Saturday to share the 54-hole lead at the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada’s Wildfire Invitational presented by PC Financial.

Skinns, who entered the day with a one stroke lead, managed a 5-under 67, while Marinell birdied three of his first four holes and three of his last five to match Skinns at 18-under par, one ahead of Dundas, Ontario’s Chris Ross and New York’s Michael Miller.

“It was kind of a battle and I think it was good for both of us. It kind of pushed us to the top of the leaderboard,” said Marinell, who ranks 18^th on the Order of Merit with three top-10s this season. “I think we both kind of fed off each other a little bit. I got off to a hot start and kind of fizzled out, and when I fizzled out he started getting hot as well. We both kind of pushed each other a little.”

With 15 players within five shots – the same margin from which Iowa’s Nate McCoy came back to win at last year’s Wildfire Invitational –  heading into Sunday, Skinns said he was looking forward to one more day of dueling with Marinell and the rest of the field.

“That’s where we all want to be, and it’s a fun place to be with people watching. Chase is a lot of fun to play with, so hopefully we can have some fun tomorrow as well,” said Skinns, who finished T6 at Wildfire in 2013.

For Marinell, who confessed he had doubts about his ability to compete on the Mackenzie Tour at the start of the year, Sunday represents another chance to establish himself in his first full season as a pro. The 23-year old can move as high as no. 3 on the Order of Merit with a win Sunday.

“Coming out here and knowing I’m one of the best guys out here and being able to believe that is huge for me, and I just want to act like I’m one of the better players. I’m just going to come out here tomorrow and keep believing that and try to end up at the top,” said Marinell.

Ross, who recorded the best round of the day with an 8-under 64, posted the earlier clubhouse lead with a birdie at the last and was later matched by Miller with a two-putt birdie of his own.

One shot further behind were Peterborough native Ted Brown, The Players Cup champion C.T. Pan of Taiwan and Michigan’s Ryan Brehm.

NUMBERS YOU NEED TO KNOW

5: The stroke deficit 2014 champion Nate McCoy made up before winning last season.

15: Players within five shots through three rounds.

-18: David Skinns and Chase Marinell’s total to par through 54 holes, the lowest such total on the Mackenzie Tour this season.

QUOTABLES:

“It’s strictly tee balls. If I get it in play, I’m going to have a lot of opportunities, especially out here. You have so many wedges in your hands. I’ll need to go as low as I possibly can. I’m probably going to show up tomorrow and have a bunch of guys in front of me before I even tee off.” – Ted Brown on the improvement in his game and his 2015 season on the Web.com Tour, where he made three of 13 cuts.

“This is the biggest tournament where I’ve put myself around the lead heading into the last day, so I don’t know how I’ll sleep tonight – I know it’s cliché – but we’ll just have to see.” – Michael Miller on being in contention heading to the final day.

“I had a good day. I got off to a good start yesterday and kind of fell off at the end. Today, my wife was there and that just let me focus on other things. Just having my wife and my mom and my daughter, and I know my dad’s watching closely back home, is very important to me. I’m definitely going to be nervous, but she’s a calming influence on me and knows what to tell me.” – Christopher Ross on his wife and caddie, Stephanie, helping him to an 8-under 64 on Saturday.

Notes:

• Weather: 29 degrees Celsius (36 with Humidity). Sunny. Winds 6 km/h.
• Skinns and Marinell’s 18-under total is the best 54-hole score to par for any three rounds on the Mackenzie Tour this season, matching Taylor Pendrith and Sam Ryder (second through fourth rounds) at the National Capital Open to Support Our Troops.
• Christopher Ross ranks 61^st on the Order of Merit and trails no. 60 Matt Hansen by $1. The top 60 through next week’s Cape Breton Celtic Classic will earn a spot in the season-ending Freedom 55 Financial Championship and exempt status on the Mackenzie Tour for next season.
• Ted Brown finished T12 at The Wildfire Invitational last year, one of seven top-25 finishes.
• 16 players have shot in the 60s all three days at Wildfire.