NORTON, Mass. - Jason Day capped off an exciting day with a routine birdie to take the lead Sunday in the Deutsche Bank Championship, setting up a Labor Day finish with all sorts of possibilities.
Day watched a three-shot lead evaporate in two holes, only to get it back on the par-5 18th with a shot just off the back of the green, leaving him a simple two-putt for birdie and a 5-under 66. He had a one-shot lead over Brandt Snedeker, who made a mess of the 18th until chipping in for par and a 67.
Just like so many other times at this tournament, the Deutsche Bank Championship could be up for grabs. And so could the No. 1 ranking.
Tiger Woods could only manage one birdie over the last 11 holes and shot a 2-under 69, leaving him tied for 23rd and 10 shots out of the lead. That set the stage for Phil Mickelson or Steve Stricker to end his five-year run atop the world ranking.
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Stricker is closer to the lead. Mickelson has better odds.
Both of them might have a tough time catching up to Day, the 22-year-old Australian who won the Byron Nelson Championship in May and is starting to play his best golf during the FedEx Cup playoffs. He was at 17-under 196, matching the 54-hole record at the TPC Boston set by Mike Weir two years ago.
Luke Donald birdied the last hole for a 66 and was two shots behind.
Defending champion Stricker played his third straight round without a bogey for a 67 and was at 13 under with Charley Hoffman (69).
Mickelson (67) was in a group at 12 under.
Champions Tour
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. - Ted Schulz won the First Tee Open for his first Champions Tour title, holing a 12-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole at Pebble Beach en route to a 2-under 70 and a one-stroke victory over Tom Pernice Jr.
The 50-year-old Schulz - in the field on conditional status in his 12th start on the 50-and-over tour - finished at 14-under 202. It was his first victory since winning the 1991 Nissan Open for the second of his two PGA Tour titles.
Pernice finished with a 67. Mark Calcavecchia and Tom Kite closed with 69s to tie for third at 12 under. Fred Couples (68) followed at 11 under.
European Masters
CRANS-SUR-SIERRE, Switzerland - Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez won the European Masters for his third victory of the year, shooting a 4-under 67 to beat Italy's Edoardo Molinari by three strokes.
The 46-year-old Jimenez finished at 21-under 263.
Local
holes-in-one
Oscar Cuellar
• Aug. 29, 2010, Golf Club at Vistoso, No. 15, 174 yards, 5-iron. Witnesses: Gabriel Lopez, Edward Madigan, Todd Rothman.
Frank G. Castro III
• Sept. 4, 2010, Golf Club at Vistoso, No. 7, 156 yards, 9-iron. Witnesses: Mark Naiper, David Hankin.
Andy Morrone
• Sept. 4, 2010, Rolling Hills, No. 9, 155 yards, 5-utility. Witnesses: John Voorhies, Hal Leach, William Hurst.
Terry C. Repp
• Aug. 31, 2010, Rolling Hills, No. 13, 167 yards, 7-iron. Witnesses: Fred Greenwood, Ted Shane, Bob Hershey.
Susan Routzong
• Sept. 4, 2010, Mountain View, No. 13, 110 yards, 5-hybrid. Witnesses: Ed Routzong, Bill Taylor, Caralee Taylor.
Brian Shinn
• Aug. 29, 2010, Dell Urich, No. 4, 277 yards, par-4, 3-wood. Witnesses: Christian Hoyt, Larry Hoscheidt, Ryan Hoscheidt.
Ryan Skog
• Sept. 5, 2010, Starr Pass, No. 8 Roadrunner, 158 yards, 9-iron. Witnesses: Patrick Skog, David Skog, Richard Gollner.
Ed Turner
• Aug. 13, 2010, Silverbell, No. 6, 170 yards, 6-iron. Witnesses: Ed Lynn, Larry Cuculic.
