Bowditch leads, Mickelson withdraws at Texas Open
Steven Bowditch opened a three-stroke lead Saturday in the Texas Open, while Phil Mickelson withdrew after 10 holes because of a pulled muscle in his right side.
Bowditch, the 30-year-old Australian seeking his first PGA Tour title, shot a 4-under 68 to reach 12 under at TPC San Antonio. Matt Kuchar and Andrew Loupe were tied for second. Kuchar shot 65, and Loupe had a 70.
“I’ve won four or five times between Australia and Web.com,” said Bowditch, who would get into the Masters with a victory. “I’ve got a little experience, but not a great deal, especially at this level. I’ve never slept on a lead, so we’ll see how we go.”
Mickelson withdrew after pulling the muscle teeing off on No. 1 – his 10th hole of the round. He hopes to play next week in the Houston Open, the last event before the Masters.
“I pulled a muscle on my downswing trying to hit it hard,” Mickelson said a statement. “It just killed and it wouldn’t subside for 10 or 12 seconds. I’m going back to San Diego (for) a couple of days and have a doctor look at it, but there’s really not much you can do for a pulled muscle. I hope I’ll be OK to play the Shell in Houston, but I just don’t know.”
Lefty was 1-over par in the round and 4 over overall when the three-time Masters champion was taken off the course in a cart. His caddie, Jim Mackay, said Mickelson felt a twinge on his tee shot on No. 1.
“It’s definitely not his back,” Mackay said. “It’s his right side. The thing he had been talking about is how good his back had been feeling here. He’ll definitely play Houston, if he can.”
It’s the second time this year Mickelson has withdrawn in the middle of a tournament. He pulled out at Torrey Pines after making the cut because of a back injury.
On Friday, Mickelson made the cut on the number, following an opening 77 with a 70.
EuroAsia Cup: Asia staged an improbable Ryder Cup-like comeback on the final day of the EurAsia Cup Saturday, picking up seven of 10 points available in singles to level the score at 10-all and share the trophy with Europe.
Asia, trailing 7-3 going into the final day, briefly took the lead at 9-8 before Joost Luiten beat Koumei Oda 1-up to pull the Europeans level.
The final match between Asia’s Hideto Tanihara and Europe’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano then finished all square.
Tanihara sank an eight-foot putt to halve the 17th after Fernandez-Castano eagled the 16th to even the match.
Reifers leads at Web.com: Kyle Reifers holds a one-shot lead over two other players at the Louisiana Open on the Web.com Tour. Reifers is at 12-under-par 201. Blayne Barber and Brett Stegmeier are each one stroke back.
Steve Wheatcroft, a former Washington resident, missed the cut.