Watson charges in Rd. 3 of BNI Indonesian Masters

Bubba Watson, who has captained RangeGoats GC the last three seasons, went low Saturday in Round 3 of the BNI Indonesian Masters, shooting a 7-under 65 to sit in third place entering the final round.

Watson, a two-time Masters champion, aced the par-3 11th with a wedge before Phachara Khongwatmai from Thailand, playing in the group ahead, holed his wedge on the same hole moments later.

Watson will try and claim his first title in six years tomorrow, off the back of a brilliant round today featuring that ace and five birdies.

“It was a perfect pitching wedge,” said Watson after his ace. “We couldn't see it. I didn't believe them (when people said it was in the hole) because you didn't really hear like, a roar that kept going ... I just didn't believe them, but they gave me high-fives, and I still didn't believe it until I got the ball out of the hole.”

Each hole-in-one this week will see a house donated to a local family in need through the Habitat Humanity Indonesia charity. Watson and Phachara’s aces will soon make two families very happy, while the American said he would also personally donate an additional house.

“The game of golf has helped tremendously around the world through all the charities that golf has brought to the table, so to be a part of that, it's very special," Watson said. "It's an honor. There'll be a couple families that will be helped out.”

Everyone is chasing Canadian Richard T. Lee, who is on a quest for his first win on the Asian Tour in seven years after gaining momentum Saturday when he opened up a six-stroke lead. Lee, who has led the tournament since day one, carded a third-round 6-under 66 to move to 21-under at Royale Jakarta Golf Club.

Pakistan’s Ahmad Baig is in sole possession of second, following a 65.

After Lee's poor finish on Friday, when his lead dropped from six to three after a bogey and a double on the last two holes, he bounced back with a bogey-free round sprinkled with six birdies. He also made brilliant up-and-downs for pars on the 15th and 16th to stay in control.

Lee was also not distracted when play was stopped because of lightning and rain when he was on the 15th. Play resumed shortly after.

“It was a very clean scorecard today,” said Lee. “During the break I just had a few talks with my friends in Indonesia and they calmed me down pretty well, so I made a few more birdies out there. It looks to be pretty good tomorrow for another good round.”

He opened with a birdie today after stiffing his second shot.

"You go bogey and then double on the last two holes (yesterday), you just don't feel very good," Lee said. "But coming out to the range today, I felt like I was hitting it as well as how I was hitting it in the first round. So, yeah, hitting it that close and almost going in, it just felt great.”

Since his most recent win, the 2017 Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea, the Canadian has been in contention on many occasions, including seven top three finishes – including tying for second in last week’s International Series Thailand.

Also, just before the global pandemic stopped play on Tour for nearly two years, he also lost in a sudden-death playoff at the Sarawak Championship in 2019.

Baig continues to play the best golf of his career. The big-hitting Pakistani, currently in second place on the Asian Development Tour Order of Merit with two wins this year, was in second place going into the final round of the International Series Thailand last Sunday. He tied for 31st and will be looking to improve on that tomorrow.

“I'm just trying to keep doing what I am doing right now," Baig said. "I think my putter is very hot this week, so let's see tomorrow.”

He was also bogey free today, revealing he can “reach all the par fives in two here.”

Other 2024 LIV Golf members and reserves set for Sunday include Kieran Vincent (69) and John Catlin (68), who currently sit T4, as well as Danny Lee (T12), Scott Vincent (T19) and Richard Bland (T55).

(Photo courtesy of Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour)