AP – Hunter Mahan hits from the greenside bunker on the 10th hole during the third round of the Tour Championship … ATLANTA – Aaron Baddeley wanted to make a good impression on Greg Norman with hopes of being picked for the Presidents Cup.
He wound up impressing a lot of people Saturday in the Tour Championship.
Baddeley holed out for eagle on the fourth hole, and then lit up the back nine of East Lake with four straight birdies on his way to a 6-under 64 that put him atop the leaderboard with Hunter Mahan.
Mahan holed a birdie putt just over 20 feet on the par-3 18th for a 66.
They were at 9-under 201, both poised to capture a meaningful cup — even if it isn't the same one.
Mahan is No. 21 in the FedEx Cup and didn't think he had a chance at the $10 million prize at the start of the week.
Of the top five players in the standings, however, only Luke Donald remains in serious contention, and Mahan learned when he finished his round that he was projected to win golf's richest prize.
"I honestly didn't think that was a possibility," Mahan said.
The Tour Championship suddenly is loaded with possibilities.
Jason Day recovered from a ragged start and had a 69, leaving him only two shots back. The 23-year-old Australian was tied with K.J. Choi, who also started poorly and shot 70.
Donald, the world No. 1 who still can add his name to the prestigious list of players to have captured the FedEx Cup, had a 70 and was only three shots behind.
Bill Haas, who had a chance to make the Presidents Cup team last week until a 42 on the back nine at Cog Hill, was among those tied for the lead until the final two holes. He went bunker-to-bunker on the 17th and had to scramble for bogey, and then hit his tee shot on the 18th into the crowd, missed a 4-foot putt and made double bogey.
Haas was followed by his father, Jay Haas, an assistant captain for the Presidents Cup. He had to settle for a 69 and was so steamed that he refused requests for interviews.
Ten players were separated by five shots — the margin by which Baddeley trailed going into the final round — and the group includes Phil Mickelson, who won this event two years ago. He had a 67 and was only four shots behind.
"I feel like the first three rounds, I had three possibilities of 63, 64 that I turned into 68, 69," Mickelson said. "If I can just not do that and keep it where I feel the round should be, I think I can make a run tomorrow."
The pressure is building on so many fronts going into Sunday, and while it's easy to focus on the $10 million to the winner of the FedEx Cup — $9 million of that in cash — for some it's a cup that doesn't pay anything.
Baddeley, a winner at Riviera early in the year, grew up in Melbourne and desperately wants to be part of his first Presidents Cup team at Royal Melbourne. He is among three Australians — Robert Allenby and John Senden are the others _under consideration for two of Norman's picks. They will be announced Tuesday.
Baddeley spoke to Norman at the start of the week and knew the Shark would be watching. It didn't make Baddeley nervous, it made him determined.
"For me, it's a motivator," Baddeley said. "I want to play good. I want to be on that team, so I knew I had to play well this week. It's time to bear down. I got some good work done on Tuesday and Wednesday, so I was ready for Thursday."
Most of that practice time was spent on putting. Baddeley is among the best in golf, though he felt something was missing. He worked on getting the club more balanced, paying particular attention to his right hand on the putter. He seems to have figured it out, making a 35-foot putt on No. 7, and a pair of 20-footers on the 14th and 15th.
The rest of his game was sharp, too. From 176 yards in a fairway bunker on the 13th, he stuffed a 7-iron to inside 10 feet for yet another birdie.
Mahan also got in some late practice, mainly trying to get the club more square at impact because of a change in his release since working with Sean Foley. He got into the picture by hitting his approach on the eighth to inside a foot, then drilled a fairway metal from 274 yards to 20 feet for an eagle on No. 9.
Throughout the day, the projections for who might win the FedEx Cup were like watching the stock market. As many as five players moved to the top, although nothing really matters until Sunday.
Webb Simpson is No. 1 on the list, and he finished with a birdie on the 18th to get into a tie for 15th. If he were to finish in the top 12, he could still claim the $10 million even if Mahan wins the Tour Championship.
"It's kind of weird," Mahan said. "I could still win — I could play flawless golf tomorrow, win by five — and finish fifth in FedEx Cup points. I could finish 10th in FedEx Cup points. It's one of those things where you can't even worry about it just because you can't do the math that fast."
Adam Scott remains hopeful, at least of the Tour Championship. He was in the lead until a 39 on the back nine, compounded by a three-putt double bogey on the 14th. He wound up with a 74 and was five shots behind.
"Very disappointing," Scott said. "Going to come tomorrow and have the round of my life, hopefully."
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