Boo Weekly on course for title defence

Boo knows birdies, especially at Harbour Town Golf Links.

Defending champion Boo Weekley continued his amazing start at Pete Dye’s magnificent masterpiece with a 65 on Saturday to take a three-stroke lead heading into the final round of the Verizon Heritage.

No one’s taken to the tricky layout of tight fairways, smallish greens and railroad ties as quickly as Weekley, who posted his seventh round in the 60s since first teeing it up here last spring.

When Weekley came here, he said it felt like his old home course, Tanglewood Golf & Country Club in the Florida Panhandle. Ever since, he’s played Harbour Town like a member.

“I’ve hit the ball pretty well, and I’ve kept it in a place I know I can score from,” he said.

And boy did Weekley ever score.

He had a stretch of five straight birdies on the front nine that took him two shots behind to two in front.

“I just got feeling solid over the ball. And I stayed within myself,” he said. “This whole week I have.”

Weekley was three ahead of Anthony Kim (67) and five in front of Aaron Baddeley (67), Jason Bohn (67) and Cliff Kresge (68). Second-round leader Lucas Glover shot a 73 to drop seven shots back.

Weekley chipped in on the 71st and 72nd holes a year ago to beat Ernie Els for his first PGA Tour victory. The good-natured, self-proclaimed country boy from East Milton, Fla., hasn’t slowed down in his return.

Weekley’s seven straight rounds in the 60s tied Greg Norman for second all-time at Harbour Town behind Nick Price’s nine in a row.

Those major champions had made several stops here before their streaks began.

Then again, Weekley usually defies conventional wisdom.

He’ll talk to galleries, chew tobacco during the round and joke with his playing partners.

Near the end of his round, he asked a little girl on the 18th tee if she wanted a golf ball. When she said yes, Weekley told her, “Let me hit it and I’ll bring one back.”

Weekley delivered on his promise. Maybe that’s why the galleries here chant his name when he walks by.

“These people paid their money to come out and watch us play,” Weekley said. “Why not talk to them a little bit?”

Doesn’t that break your focus?

You’re looking around anyway, Weekley answers, so what’s the difference “looking out there in the water or looking at the people.”

Weekley started the day a stroke behind Glover. Weekley fell two back after finding the sand on the par-5 second hole and settling for par while Glover made birdie.

Then Weekley’s run began with—what else?—a chip in on the par-3 fourth.

A two-putt birdie on the par-5 fifth followed. Weekley stuck his approach on the next hole to 7 feet for a third straight birdie and a tie with Glover.

Weekley moved in front on the seventh with a 10-foot birdie putt.

When Weekley rolled home a 20-footer on the eighth, he was two shots in front.

Weekley pumped his fist and pointed as the fans chanted “Boooo! Boooo!”

The streak ended on the ninth when Weekley saved par out of the sand.

He stretched his lead to three shots with a birdie on the 12th hole.

Weekley’s lone “boo-boo” came four holes later, his approach to No. 16 skidding off the green and near the 17th tee to lead to bogey. He made it back on the closing, lighthouse hole, rolling in a 6-footer for a three-shot edge.

Kim, a second-year player seeking his first PGA Tour win, was the only one who kept pace with Weekley. Starting two shots off the lead, Kim made eagle on the second and stayed close with two birdies on the front.

The 22-year-old nearly saw it fall apart, dunking his tee shot on the 10th hole into the water. But he chipped in to save par.

Kim also saved par from off the green on the 18th to stay in Sunday’s final group with Weekley.

Kim says that hasn’t happened since his amateur days. “I’m glad to be there and I’ll have some fun tomorrow,” he said.

That’s usually how it is with Weekley as a partner.

Weekley swore a year ago as he sat with the champions’ plaid jacket he wouldn’t change because of success. He’s been true to his word.

Weekley charmed the galleries again with his folksy, good ol’ golfer outlook.

He teed it up with his mother, Patsy, in Wednesday’s pro-am, then got angry, he says, when she outdrove him on the first hole.

He took time during the second round to smooth a bunker on the 16th hole. “I ain’t too good to rake a bunker,” Weekley said simply.

When asked where his garish checked winner’s coat was, he smiled and said it was packed up in his mama’s car after he wore it to “march around the lagoon,” Weekley’s description of the tournament’s opening ceremonies.