NORTON, Mass. -- Russell Henley made five birdies in a seven-hole stretch Sunday on his way to a 6-under 65, giving him a one-shot lead in the Deutsche Bank Championship going into a Labor Day finish loaded with possibilities.
And that includes Rory McIlroy.
Coming off a week that was pedestrian by his standards, McIlroy got right back into the mix at the TPC Boston with his power and great iron play for a 64, leaving him just two shots behind on a crowded leaderboard.
"I've been in this position quite a lot recently," McIlroy said. "So I know how it's going to feel tomorrow."
It feels a lot like the FedEx Cup playoff opener a week ago at The Barclays, with more than a dozen players having a reasonable chance going into the final round. Ten players were separated by four shots at the Deutsche Bank Championship, and six of them already have won this season.
Henley was at 12-under 201. He will play in the final group with Billy Horschel, who birdied his last three holes for a 67.
Chris Kirk went toe-to-toe with McIlroy in the third round and matched his 64, coming within inches of an eagle on the final hole. They will play together again on Monday.
Shaw Charity Classic
CALGARY, Alberta -- Fred Couples won the Champions Tour's Shaw Charity Classic on Sunday, chipping in for eagle for a course-record 9-under 61 and beating Billy Andrade with a tap-in birdie on the first hole of a playoff.
The 54-year-old Couples also eagled the par-5 11th and had five birdies in his bogey-free round at Canyon Meadows. Andrade closed with a 62, making a short eagle putt on the par-5 18th to match Couples at 15-under 195.
Couples also won the Toshiba Classic in March in California and has 11 victories on the 50-and-over tour. The Hall of Famer won 15 times on the PGA Tour.
Italian Open
TURIN, Italy -- Hennie Otto of South Africa held on to claim a second Italian Open victory by two shots on Sunday, while Stephen Gallacher came up just short of an automatic Ryder Cup spot after finishing third.
Otto, who won the event in 2008, shot a 4-under 68 to finish with a 20-under total of 268 and hold off David Howell, who surged up the leaderboard with a 63 to finish second. The Scot will now have to wait until Tuesday, when European captain Paul McGinley announces his three wild cards.
Sports on 09/01/2014