B. Haas fires low round; leads in NTO defense
Feb. 16, 2013 - 5:40 PM ET
Bill Haas turned in the lowest round of the day in the third round of the Northern Trust Open when he signed for a bogey-free 7-under-par 32-32=64, and he leads in his attempt to defend his 2012 title at 12-under 201.
Haas failed to birdie the easy par-5 first hole, but got on the board with a birdie from 10 feet on the par-4 fifth hole. It would be his first of three birdies on the front nine, capped off by a 28'3" effort on the ninth. He quickly turned his attention to the inward nine at Riviera CC with a chip-in eagle from 19 yards on the par-4 10th. He added two more birdies on the back, both on the par 5s and both thanks to sand saves. The question isn't if he will have the lead entering the finale, but how wide of a margin the field will allow him.
