Calgary – Windmill Golf Group has announced that construction has begun on its newest championship golf course, Mickelson National Golf Club, just west of Calgary in beautiful Rocky View County at the foothills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Barry Ehlert, Managing Partner of Windmill Golf Group, is developing Mickelson National Golf Club as a centerpiece of Harmony, a 1,750-acre community built by partners Qualico Communities and Bordeaux Developments.

“This announcement has been seven years in the making” said Ehlert “It’s a dream come true and to have Phil Mickelson and his team involved makes that wait absolutely worthwhile.”

The gently rolling foothills are being transformed, with shaping reflective of the mountains, water features and sensational landscaping to accentuate the golf course design. The goal is to open the course for play in fall of 2017.

“I’m thrilled that we’ve begun work on a project we’re confident will be one of the outstanding courses in Canada,” said Mickelson. “The land and setting give us a great opportunity to create a versatile course that will both challenge the world’s best players and be great fun for amateurs of all levels.”
Mickelson’s first design was Whisper Rock in Scottsdale, Az. PMD has completed successful projects in Kunming and Shanghai, China.

“At Mickelson National Golf Club,” said Ehlert, “our goal is to set new standards in providing a vibrant and exciting golfing experience – we’re investing in creating Canada’s flagship club.”

Harmony Developments Inc., Birol Fisekci said, “When you’re talking about a place as special as Rocky View County, you really do need to build projects that do it justice. Having a golf facility of such a high caliber, built by the best and that will attract and potentially create the game’s top players, only makes sense in Harmony and Springbank.”

Prince Albert, Sask. (Golf Canada) ─ Le Cooke Municipal Golf Course de Prince Albert, en Saskatchewan, sera l’hôte du Championnat des Prairies Premiers élans CN 2015, du 12 au 14 juin.

Le Championnat des Prairies Premiers élans CN est le troisième tournoi de la série de compétitions régionales présentées en partenariat avec le CN pour appuyer le développement du golf junior.

Établi en plein cœur de la ville de Prince Albert, le prestigieux Cooke Municipal Golf Course compte plus de 100 ans d’histoire. Le club a été l’hôte de plusieurs championnats provinciaux et nationaux, y compris le Championnat canadien mid-amateur masculin de 2009.

« Les championnats Premiers élans CN de cette année ont démarré en trombe alors que les éditions du Pacifique et de l’Ontario ont donné lieu à des compétitions très relevées », a déclaré Dan Hyatt, directeur du tournoi. « Golf Canada est fier de poursuivre la série au Cooke Municipal Golf Course où plusieurs juniors de la région tenteront d’impressionner parents et amis. Nous prévoyons une compétition des plus emballantes. »

Deux jeunes golfeurs du Québec seront du nombre, soit William Comeau, 17 ans, de Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, et Philippe Guité, 15 ans, de St-Bruno-de-Montarville.

Les six premiers garçons et filles de chaque Championnat Premiers élans CN obtiendront un laissez-passer pour le Championnat canadien junior masculin ou féminin. Le Championnat canadien junior masculin 2015 se déroulera du 3 au 6 août au Club de golf Summerlea, à Vaudreuil-Dorion (Québec), tandis que le Championnat canadien junior féminin se tiendra du 4 au 7 août au Deer Park Municipal Golf Course, à Yorkton (Sask.). De plus, les six championnes Premiers élans CN de 2015 obtiendront leur entrée au tournoi de leur choix du Circuit canadien féminin 2016.

Le premier Championnat Premiers élans CN de la saison a été disputé du 8 au 10 mai au Pheasant Glen Golf Resort de Qualicum Beach, en Colombie-Britannique. Deux membres de la formation de développement d’Équipe Canada l’avaient emporté. Trevor Ranton (Waterloo, ON) a mené de bout en bout pour enlever la division Garçons tandis que Grace St-Germain, d’Ottawa, gagnait la division Filles. La deuxième compétition de 2015, le Championnat de l’Ontario Premiers élans CN, au Pine Knot Golf & Country Club (Dorchester, Ont.) a été l’affaire des Ontariens Jack Simpson (Aurora) et Alyssa Getty Ruthven).

Le calendrier des championnats Premiers élans CN 2015 comprendra trois autres étapes :

• 3-5 juillet – Championnat du Québec Premiers élans CN – Golf Château-Bromont, Bromont, Québec
• 7-9 juillet – Championnat de l’Ouest Premiers élans CN – Goose Hummock Golf Course, Gibbons, Alb.
• 14-16 juillet – Championnat de l’Atlantique Premiers élans CN – Gowan Brae G&CC, Bathurst, N.-B.

Pour de plus amples renseignements sur le Championnat des Prairies Premiers élans CN 2015, y compris les heures de départ, les résultats quotidiens et le tableau, cliquez ici.

Prince Albert, Sask. – Cooke Municipal Golf Course in Prince Albert, Sask., is set to host many of the country’s junior golfing talents for the playing of the 2015 CN Future Links Prairie Championship. The tournament will open with a practice round on June 11, followed by 54-holes of stroke play competition from June 12-14.

The CN Future Links Prairie Championship is the third of six junior golf championships presented in partnership with CN to support the development of junior golf.

The historic Cooke Municipal Golf Course is situated in the heart of Prince Albert, Sask., and has been home to local golfers for over a century. It has hosted many provincial and national championships including the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur in 2009.

“This year’s CN Future Links Championships have gotten off to a great start with high levels of competition at the Pacific and Ontario editions,” said Dan Hyatt, Tournament Director. “Golf Canada is proud to continue the series at Cooke Municipal Golf Course with a number of local juniors looking to impress in front of friends and family. We are looking forward to an exciting championship.”

Competing in the Junior Boys division will be Owen Xiong, the 2014 CN Future Links Prairie Championship runner-up. The West Vancouver, B.C., native will look to improve upon a strong showing at the season-opening Pacific edition of the CN Future Links Championship. The reigning Saskatchewan Junior Boys champion, Corey Bailey from Shaunavon, Sask., will also be in the field. He finished the 2014 edition of this event at 7-over par to claim sixth place.

The field will feature a total of 22 players competing in their home province, including five juniors who call Prince Albert home. The quintet will look to take full advantage of the host venue being their home club. Kayla Sawchuk, the current Saskatchewan Junior Girls Champion, will be in contention hoping to translate her provincial success onto the national stage.

Team Canada Development Squad member Alisha Lau will also be in the hunt for the 2015 championship title after a runner-up finish last year at this event. The Richmond, B.C., product had a strong showing at the CN Future Links Pacific Championship, finishing at 8-over par to claim solo sixth place.

The top six junior boys and junior girls at each of the CN Future Links Championships will receive exemptions into their respective junior championships. The 2015 Canadian Junior Boys Championship will be held from August 2-6 at Summerlea Golf and Country Club in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., while the 2015 Canadian Junior Girls Championship will take place in Yorkton, Sask., at Deer Park Municipal Golf Course, August 3-7. In addition, the six CN Future Links Junior Girls champions will gain exemptions into a 2016 Canadian Women’s Tour event of their choice.

National Team Development Squad members Trevor Ranton (Waterloo, Ont.) and Grace St-Germain (Ottawa, Ont.) claimed the titles at the CN Future Links Pacific Championship at Pheasant Glen Golf Resort in Qualicum Beach, B.C., to open the season series. The Ontario edition of the championships contested at Pine Knot Golf & Country Club in Dorchester, Ont., saw Jack Simpson (Aurora, Ont.) and Alyssa Getty (Ruthven, Ont.) emerge victorious in their home province.

Three additional CN Future Links Championships will be played across the country in July:

July 2-5 – CN Future Links Quebec – Domaine Château-Bromont, Bromont, Que.

July 6-9 – CN Future Links Western – Goose Hummock Golf Course, Gibbons, Alta.

July 13-16 – CN Future Links Atlantic – Gowan Brae G& CC, Bathurst, N.B.

Additional information on the 2015 CN Future Links Prairie Championship, including a full list of competitors and pairings are available here.

Listen in to our announcement…

Golf Canada is pleased to announce that Canadian PGA TOUR star Graham DeLaet has been named as an ambassador for the Golf in Schools program.

DeLaet, currently the top-ranked Canadian on the Official World Golf Ranking (#86), will appear in Golf in Schools promotional materials—including learning resources and videos in addition to hosting a Golf in Schools junior clinic during the fall to raise excitement in the sport as students head back to school. As part of his relationship with Golf in Schools, DeLaet will also raise money through his Foundation, the Graham and Ruby DeLaet Foundation, to adopt schools into the program in communities across Canada.

“When Ruby and I started our Foundation, we wanted to ensure that it supported golf at the grassroots level – and the Golf in Schools program is making a big contribution in bridging the gap. We believe that it is important to introduce golf to schools so that kids can start learning the sport early, seeing more kids with clubs in their hands, and ultimately growing the game of golf,” said DeLaet, a graduate of Golf Canada’s National Team program.

Currently offered in more than 2,400 elementary and close to 300 high schools across Canada, Golf in Schools provides children with a basic introduction to golf through the Canadian school physical education curriculum. The program features three curriculum levels – Grades 2– 5 and high school level along with the newly launched intermediate level for students in Grade 6–8.

Launched in 2009, the Golf in Schools program—which is endorsed by Physical Health and Education Canada (PHE Canada)—is conducted by Golf Canada in partnership with the PGA of Canada and the provincial golf associations. The Golf in Schools program consists of safety-approved golf equipment, along with a relevant teaching resource for teachers to deliver lesson plans to students.

New in 2015, Golf Canada partnered with the University of Ottawa to include a Life Skills component throughout all three levels of the program. The Life Skills element incorporates fundamental skills and values such as respect, perseverance, and honesty—all of which are fully integrated into the teacher-friendly learning resources.

“We are extremely proud to welcome Graham DeLaet as our Golf in Schools Ambassador,” said Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer.  “Having Canada’s No. 1 ranked professional golfer extend his support and generosity to junior golf through his Foundation is outstanding. Graham is an incredibly talented golfer with a passion to give back to a game that’s given him so much.”

DeLaet’s support of the Golf in Schools program dates to back to September 2014, when along with his wife Ruby, donated $1 per twitter follower (@Fore_Kids) to Golf in Schools upon launching the Graham and Ruby DeLaet Foundation.

The Graham and Ruby DeLaet Foundation is focused on improving the health and wellness of children and supporting the development of junior golfers at all stages. More information on Graham and the Graham and Ruby DeLaet Foundation is available at www.grahamdelaet.com

Golf in Schools – by the numbers:

• With 10,000 elementary and 4,500 high schools across the country, the Canadian school physical education curriculum represents the single most concentrated opportunity to get students of all ages and demographic introduced to the game.
• To date more than 2,700 schools are participating in Golf in Schools (includes more than 306,000 students)
• 45% of all Golf in Schools participating schools are the result of a “School Adoption” whereby an individual or corporation donates to bring the program to the school
• 299 schools were adopted in 2014 into the Golf in Schools program
• An average of 120 students per participating school are exposed to golf through the program

More information about the Golf in Schools program including the school adoption program is available at www.nationalgolfinschools.com.

Two Canadians have emerged from the longest day of golf and have received their tickets to the 115^th U.S. Open at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash., June 18-21.

Competing in one of the toughest fields at Brookside Golf and Country Club, PGA Tour member David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., and Manotick Ont., native Brad Fritsch, who plays on the Web.com tour, have earned spots into the U.S. National Open Championship.

Monday was the final chance for nearly 800 players, at 10 sectional qualifying events, to enter the field of competition through though 36-hole qualifiers spanning the country.

In a field loaded with PGA Tour members, Hearn shot a bogey-free total of 11 under to tie for third, one stroke behind co-medalists Michael Putnam and Samuel Saunders. Fritsch tied for seventh on the strength of a final round 67 to finish 8 under.

After claiming the top spot in the sectional event, Putnam will be a favourite heading into the U.S. Open next week as he heads to his home town of University Place, Wash. Putnam lives just over a mile from Chambers Bay, south of Seattle, and has the advantage of playing the course more than anyone.

Another Ontario native just missed out on a spot in the championship. Mackenzie Hughes, a member of Team Canada’s Young Pro Squad, finished his second round with a double-bogey placing him fourth in a field of 50, just shy of the three qualifying spots. The Dundas, Ont., native needed a bogey to qualify for a three-way playoff or a par to gain a spot. Hughes will be an alternate for the 2015 U.S. Open.

Hearn and Fritsch are the only Canadians to book their tickets to University Place.

Canadian results at U.S. Open Qualifying:

Old Oaks CC/Century CC, Purchase, NY

Keven Fortin-Simard, Roberval, Que. *74-75—149: +8

Michael Blair, Ancaster, Ont. *73-79—152: +11

Dan McNeely, Smiths Falls, Ont., *73-81—154: +13

Chang Wan Woo, Markham, Ont. *WD

Brookside G&CC/Lakes G&CC, Columbus, Ohio

David Hearn, Brantford, Ont. *68-65—133: -11

Brad Fritsch, Manotick, Ont. *69-67—136: -8

Brett Nymeyer, Stratford, Ont. *WD

Mike Weir, Brights Grove, Ont. *WD

Drew Nesbitt, Shanty Bay, Ont. *WD

Nick Taylor, Abbotsford, B.C. *WD

Springfield CC, Springfield, Ohio

Cam Burke, New Hamburg, Ont. *71-69—140: Even

Jae Kim, North York, Ont. *74-68—142: +2

Evan DeGrazia, Thunder Bay, Ont. *75-79—154: +14

Germantown CC/Ridgeway CC, Memphis, Tenn.

Corey Conners, Listowel, Ont. *69-70—139: -3

Devin Carrey, Burnaby, B.C. *71-68—139: -3

Austin Connelly, Nova Scotia *69-74—143: +1

Northwood Club, Dallas, Tx.

Ted Brown, Peterborough, Ont. *66-70—136: -4

Tumble Creek Club, Cle Elum, Wash.

Mackenzie Hughes, Dundas, Ont. *70-70—140: Even

Beon Yeong Lee, Montreal *69-75—144: +4

James Lepp, Abbotsford, B.C. *73-74—147: +7

Taylor Pendrith, Richmond Hill, Ont. *72-77—149: +9

Michael Gligic, Burlington, Ont. *78-73—151: +11

Corey Renfrew, Victoria *80-73—153: +13

Mitchell Fox, Okotoks, Alta. *WD

In other qualifiers:

– Luke Donald was back in U.S. Open qualifying for the first time in 11 years. He had a 68 in his second round at The Bear’s Club – his home club in south Florida – to earn one of four spots. He shared medalist honors with Florida State’s Jack Maguire and Andrew Pope. Sam Horsfield, an 18-year-old who plans to attend Florida, won a playoff for the last spot.

– Lee Janzen won the U.S. Open in 1993 at Baltusrol and in 1998 at Olympic Club. After his 10-year exemption expired, he never made it through a qualifier. He was disqualified two years ago for wearing metal spikes at a course that doesn’t allow them. At in the New York sectional, Janzen shot 69-68 to earn one of four spots. The other qualifiers were Jamie Lovemark, Pat Wilson and Rich Berberian Jr.

That sets up Janzen for three straight weeks of majors – a Champions Tour major in Boston this week, the U.S. Open, and the U.S. Senior Open.

– Roberto Castro, who played in all four majors last year, made it through the Georgia qualifier at Hawks Ridge by not making a bogey in rounds of 64-68. But his brother, Franco Castro, missed by one shot and will be an alternate. The other qualifiers from that site were college players Matthew NeSmith and Lee McCoy.

– Power rookie Tony Finau shot 66-67 to earn one of four spots in the secondary Ohio qualifier to earn one of four spots. The others were Michael Davan, Illinois freshman Nick Hardy and Stephan Jaeger.

– Cole Hammer, a sophomore in high school, shot 64-68 at Northwood Club in Dallas to gain one of six spots with two shots to spare. Steve Marino, Rod Pampling and Peter Malnati, all of whom have been full PGA Tour members, missed by one shot. Tour rookie Carlos Ortiz missed by two.

“My main goal was to see how I match up against these people. I just had to keep doing what I was doing,” Hammer said. “This means the world to me.”

– Navy veteran Billy Hurley III earned one of three spots in the Maryland sectional with rounds of 66-72. The other spots went to Denny McCarthy, who reached the semifinals of the U.S. Amateur last year, and Tim O’Neal.

– In the other qualifier filled with PGA Tour players, two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen held on for one of 10 spots in Memphis, Tennessee. Blayne Barber shared medalist honors. Others who made it through included Brian Harman and Andres Romero.

– A trio of Washington Huskies made it out of the Washington qualifier at Tumble Creek Club – Richard Lee and Troy Kelly, both on tour, and Cheng-Tsung Pan, the runner-up at the NCAA championship this year. Pan qualified for the British Open last year in an Asian qualifier.

– Beau Hossler returns to the U.S. Open. He featured on the weekend at Olympic Club in the 2012 U.S. Open when he was 17. He now plays for Texas and earned one of six spots from the California qualifier in Newport Beach.

The most spots (15) were available in Columbus, held the day after the Memorial.

David Lingmerth, who won the Memorial in a playoff over Justin Rose, failed to earn a spot in the U.S. Open. Among those who qualified were Bryson DeChambeau, the NCAA champion from SMU. Also getting through were David Hearn of Canada, Camilo Villegas and Ryo Ishikawa.

D.A. Points, Robert Streb and Danny Lee earned the last three spots after a five-man playoff that finished just before dark.

Thunderstorms were forecast for Ohio, leading to a delay in the afternoon. It also led to plenty of players withdrawing – a total of 28, including nine on Monday.

There is still hope for the alternates from the sectional qualifiers. The U.S. Open field still has eight spots available. Some will be given to whomever is in the top 60 in the world a week from Monday, and the rest will be filled by alternates.

The USGA has not determined the order of the alternates.

With summer just around the corner, many courses are completing spring maintenance to prepare for the busy season ahead. The grounds crews at golf courses around the world work tirelessly to have their courses in prime condition for golfers and tournament play. The Etiquette section in the Rules of Golf aims to assist maintenance departments and help in caring for the course; the rules serve as guidelines for play and are not there to penalize players.

Decision 1-2/07 provides guidance on the meaning of ‘sole purpose of caring for the course’ in respect to Rule 1-2:

Decision 1-2/0.7

“The phrase “sole purpose of caring for the course” in the Exception refers to the performance of acts that are encouraged in the Etiquette Section of the Rules of Golf provided they are taken at the appropriate time and manner permitted by the Rules. The provisions of Rule 1-2 do not prevent a player from taking acts that conform with the Etiquette Section, so long as the player does so for the sole purpose of caring for the course and without intentionally influencing the movement of a ball, or the physical conditions affecting play, of a player in the player’s group or match.”

One of the more popular questions we are asked is whether a player whose ball lies in a bunker is allowed to rake footprints near the ball before playing his shot. The Rules of Golf book touches on ‘Care of the Course’ in the Etiquette Section, and simply put, it encourages all players to rake their footprints (and nearby footprints made by others) before leaving a bunker.

In this situation, the player will not be penalized if his purpose for raking footprints is for the sole purpose of caring for the course. However, doing so on the player’s line of play to affect his stance, the lie of the ball or the area of his intended swing will result in a penalty.

The game of golf relies on players conducting themselves in a respectful, disciplined manner. It is important to remember that the course must also be respected.  Whether made during the normal course of play, in practice or otherwise, players should avoid causing damage to the course by replacing divots – no matter when or how they are created.

Although caring for the course is encouraged by the Rules of Golf, a player must ensure their actions do not breach the following Rules:

• Rule 1-2 Exerting Influence on Movement of Ball or Altering Physical Conditions
• Rule 13-4 Ball in Hazard; Prohibited Actions

Putting greens are no different. This video demonstrates the effect your shoes can have on your competitors and the course itself. Don’t forget to respect the game and the course whenever you play.

NORTHERN IRELAND, U.K. – Team Canada’s Women’s Amateur Squad is ramping up to take on the strong international field at the 112^th Ladies’ British Amateur from Jun. 9–13 at the Portstewart Golf Club.

The format consists of two stroke-play qualifying rounds, followed by sudden-death match-play for the top 64 participants. The 18-hole finale will take place Saturday morning.

All members of Team Canada’s Women’s Amateur Squad will fly the flag at Portstewart. Elizabeth Tong (Thornhill, Ont.) drew the earliest tee-off for the Canucks, slated to kick things off at 1:16 p.m. BST. Maddie Szeryk, a dual-citizen of Canada and the U.S. is next in line, drawing the 2:11 p.m. slot. Team Canada veterans Jennifer Ha (Calgary) and Brittany Marchand (Orangeville, Ont.) tee-it-up at 2:44 p.m. and 3:06 p.m. respectively.

Marchand, 22, is the only member of the team to have played in the event before—she made it to the round of 32 back in 2012.

The Canadian quartet will have the luck of the Irish on their side, provided by Head Coach and hometown Irish native, Tristan Mullally.

“We’re very excited to be playing in this event—the course is in great shape and although the conditions are unfamiliar to the girls they have prepared very well,” said the PGA of Canada class ‘A’ member. “It’s a special for me being back in my home country, but I’m here to help the girls play the best they can and that’s where our focus is.”

Live scoring will be available here.

CN and Golf Canada announced the continuation of CN’s school adoption program this year in Kamloops as an extension of their dedication to junior golf through the CN Future Links Community Tour.

Close to 50 students from both Sk’elep School of Excellence and Pinantan Lake Elementary celebrated with a CN Future Links Field Trip event on Friday, June 5^th at Mount Paul Golf Course in honour of CN’s recent adoption of 15 local schools in the Kamloops region. Students received lessons in safety, putting, driving and chipping from Head Professional, Danny Latten.

As part of CN’s focus towards safety, each of the 15 adopted schools will receive an all-encompassing rail safety demonstration from CN’s partner, Operation Lifesaver, a national organization dedicated to keeping Canadian kids and the public safe around all rail tracks .

“Junior golf is a perfect fit for our focus on health and safety within our physical education curriculum,” said Denise Harper, Chair of the Board of Education for Kamloops District No. 73. “Our school board is very thankful to have the opportunity to introduce the sport and its life-long lessons to our students for many years to come.”

The celebration at Mount Paul marks 135 schools adopted by CN since 2013, reinforcing their vision of helping communities share in the health and safety values associated with junior golf. The Kamloops region was also the first of three communities visited in 2015 by the CN Future Links Community Tour, a nation-wide event that brings the values of junior golf to regions across Canada.

“CN is proud to extend our support of junior golf to Canadian students through the school adoption program,” said Claude Mongeau, CN President and Chief Executive Officer. “Kamloops is an important operations centre on CN’s network and we are very pleased to share the CN Future Links Community Tour experience with the community.”

The first Community Tour event of 2015 touched down the following day (Jun. 6) in the heart of Kamloops at The Bandshell at Riverside Park, engaging community youth and attendees in various golf activities in addition to rail safety tips from CN Police.

“CN continues to move the needle in terms of initiating creative ways to expose golf to Canada’s youth,” said Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer. “The Community Tour is a very exciting national initiative for introducing golf in fun, community-based festival environments across the country—an engaging method of taking the sport directly to youth.”

Current CN Future Links programming includes the Learn to Play program as well as mobile clinics, PGA Jr. League, Girls Club, Field Trip and the CN Future Links Championships. As part of its investment in Canadian junior golf, CN is also a proud supporter of Golf in Schools.

In 2014, CN Future Links junior golf activities were conducted at 455 golf facilities with more than 7,000 juniors registered in the Learn to Play program. In addition, 160 golf facilities took part in the Junior Skills Challenge running more than 3,200 juniors through qualifying events. More than 56,000 youngsters participated in more than 1,200 mobile golf clinics across the country. Since 2006, more than 1.2 million children have been introduced to golf through the CN Future Links program.

Victoria, B.C. – Surrey, British Columbia’s Adam Svensson and Edmond, Oklahoma’s Will Kropp fired a pair of 8-under 62s on Saturday at Uplands Golf Club to share the 54-hole lead with Toronto, Ontario’s Albin Choi heading into the final round of the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada’s Bayview Place Island Savings Open presented by Times Colonist.

Svensson, a 21-year old newly-minted professional who played his way into the field thanks to a playoff runner-up finish at last week’s PC Financial Open in Vancouver, carded six birdies and an eagle on the day, while Kropp was also bogey-free with eight birdies. Choi, who carried a three-shot lead into the day, three-putted the final hole for an even-par 70 to join Svensson and Kropp at 11-under through 54 holes.

“I was talking to my caddie last night and said we had to play pretty aggressive,” said Svensson, who played last week on a sponsor’s exemption, of his approach to the weekend. “We knew Albin’s going to keep going low, so I hit a lot of drivers out there. We had three chances for eagle and made one, so I’m playing very aggressive.”

Kropp, a second year member of the Mackenzie Tour who like Svensson began the day eight strokes behind Choi, brought a similar approach to Uplands on Saturday and saw it pay major dividends.

“I was playing pretty aggressive. I didn’t really look at the leaderboard much, but I figured I had to get to around 10-under over the next couple of days, so getting to 11-under today was a pretty good start,” said the 25-year old, who owns one win on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica at the 2014 Abierto OSDE del Centro.

While Svensson and Kropp saw their strategy pay off, Choi, who began the day with a three stroke advantage over playing partner Eugene Wong, wasn’t as fortunate after taking a similar approach. After making eagle at the par-5 7th, the 23-year old made bogeys on the 9th, 10th and 12th holes to fall back to even on the day. One birdie on the 13th and his closing bogey at 18 left him back in a tie for the lead heading into Sunday’s final round.

“I just didn’t have my best stuff out there today and I was a little off and on with the putter. I tried to play like I didn’t have a lead today. The course was playing tough but fair and I knew there would be some good scores out there,” said Choi, who made his pro debut at Uplands in 2013.

San Jose, California’s John Ellis was one shot behind the leaders with at 10-under thanks to a 4-under 66.

DUBLIN, Ohio – The two birdies Justin Rose made at the end of the second round at the Memorial were important. Even with the whole weekend ahead of him, he realized he wouldn’t have to race too hard to keep pace with the leaders.

He did better than that Saturday at Muirfield Village.

Rose made an early surge and kept pace the rest of the way. He putted for birdie on all but hole on the back nine, avoided the big numbers that can stop even the best rounds and wound up with a 6-under 66 and a three-shot lead over Francesco Molinari and David Lingmerth going into the final round.

“Finishing birdie-birdie gave me a boost to stay close to the leaders,” Rose said. “It put me in a position today where I felt like I didn’t have to chase too hard. I guess I played a good, solid, patient round of golf. It ended up turning into a great round of golf.”

Tiger Woods turned in the worst score of his career.

After opening with three straight pars, Woods missed a couple of short par putts, finished the front nine with consecutive double bogeys and ended his day of infamy with a quadruple-bogey 8 and signed for an 85.

He now has as many rounds in the 60s as the 80s this year – two apiece. Woods shot an 82 in the Phoenix Open in late January, took two months off to get his game in order, and doesn’t appear to be much better off now.

He chose not to speak to the media after his round. For the first time in his career, he will be first to tee off Sunday morning as a single.

“I’m not only surprised, I feel very bad for him,” tournament host Jack Nicklaus said.

Rose was at 15-under 201 as he tries to win for the second time this year, and become the seventh player to win multiple times at the tournament Nicklaus built.

“Kind of surprised to play my way into a three-shot lead,” Rose said. “I was looking just to keep pace, but it’s a fantastic position going into Sunday.”

Molinari had four birdies on the front nine until he cooled and shot 69. Lingmerth opened with a birdie to expand his one-shot lead at the start of the round, followed two bogeys with an eagle and then stalled. He shot 72.

“I played good the first two days, so I was just trying to stick to what I did those two days and just focus on my small little world,” Lingmerth said. “And I kind of lost that focus a little bit in the middle of the round today. But like I said, I was able to find it again in the last few holes and I’m happy about that.”

Jim Furyk, another past champion at Muirfield Village, had a 70 and was four shots behind.

Dustin Johnson and Keegan Bradley were among the early starters who showed what the course might yield. Johnson, who has been frustrated with his swing in recent weeks, happened to walk by the TV when he saw a commercial of himself. He was swinging it great, noticed a difference in the setup, worked it out on the range with Claude Harmon III and then shot 29 on the front.

In vintage Johnson fashion, he started the back nine with a double bogey and an eagle, then settled into a 65. Bradley was playing behind him. Bradley and Johnson are friends who often play money games at The Bear’s Club – the course Nicklaus build in Florida – and Bradley was inspired to keep up. He also shot 65.

So did Kevin Streelman, who was in a group at 10-under 206 that included defending champion Hideki Matsuyama (71). Bradley was six shots behind, while Johnson was lagging at seven shots out.

Masters champion Jordan Spieth finished with a double bogey for a 72 and was nine shots behind.

It was a day of great fluctuation – 20 shots between the best score and the worst.

Woods had something to do with that.

“Every single shot out there, you’re on your toes, you’re on your guard,” Rose said. “One poor judgment of the wind, or one poor execution of an iron shot, and you can make bogey in a heartbeat.”

Rose made his on the ninth hole and it settled him down. He never thinks he’s going to post a low score, though he had reason with four birdies through seven holes. His bogey on the ninth was the reminder he needed. He was solid the rest of the way, even missing a few birdies putts inside 10 feet, and the lead kept growing.

Rose was reminded of what his caddie, Mark Fulcher, said to him on Friday. They were still five shots in the second round when his caddie told him that he liked his position. It was a message to keep taking chances when they were there, and to play it safe when that’s what the shot required.

Rose must love his position now. Already a winner in New Orleans last month, and with the U.S. Open around the corner, he was poised to take a solid game and a bundle of confidence into the second major of the year.

DIVOTS: Patrick Rodgers was three shots out of the lead going into Saturday and shot 78. He was in a tie for 46th, and can’t afford to slip much farther to secure special temporary membership for the rest of the year, which would give him unlimited exemptions. … Phil Mickelson made six bogeys and a double bogey in his round of 78 to fall out of contention. … Andy Sullivan was tied for fifth. Anything in the top 10 should be enough to assure he’ll be safely in the top 60 in the world next week to get into the U.S. Open.

Canadian Graham DeLaet sits T24 with a round of 72 on Saturday while Adam Hadwin carded a round of 71 to finish T35 after round three.