ST. LOUIS - Unless one was a connoisseur of collegiate golf in the late 70's or bought corporate health insurance somewhere in Ohio during the subsequent 25 years, Rod Spittle sounds more like a Spillane character than a grinder trying to run down Kenny Perry, Jay Haas and Russ Cochran at Bellerive. Believe it when Spittle says he understands.
Kenny Perry has been here before, and been crushed by disappointment. Whatever happens in the final round of the Senior PGA Championship, he plans on leaving with his head held high.
Jeff Overton expressed his frustration on Twitter about his disqualification midway through the third round of the Colonial for illegally using a putting aid after starting play.
The kind and gentle folk who package professional golf to the masses as the sport of splendidly proper sportsmen would surely have enjoyed a casual stroll around Bellerive's pastoral acreage on Thursday afternoon in St. Louis. Even with storm clouds lurking over the opening round of the Senior PGA Championship, golf's over-50 set of old lions were on their best behavior. They were slicing their way around Bellerive with some surprisingly good golf considering the untidy weather, and they did it in a manner befitting the game's reputation of graceful good sports.
Lindsey Wright didn't realize she finished with six straight 3s on her scorecard. She couldn't name the holes where she made her seven birdies on Saturday. She only knew she played some pretty good golf in the Bahamas LPGA Classic.
Kenny Perry had an eagle, five birdies and four bogeys, mixing spectacular shots with stumbles and doing enough of the right things for a 3-under 68 and a two-stroke lead Saturday after the third round of the Senior PGA Championship.
Matt Kuchar made a 12-foot birdie putt at the 16th hole, the same place where his long Saturday at Colonial began, and led four players by a stroke after three rounds.
Lee Westwood shot a 67 Saturday to move into second place, a stroke behind Alejandro Canizares, after three rounds of the third round of the BMW PGA Championship.
Matt Kuchar stood at 5-under through 15 holes on Friday when the second round at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial was suspended due to dangerous weather.
Webb Simpson has enjoyed success with a belly putter in his five seasons on the PGA Tour, posting three victories, including the 2012 U.S. Open. He doesn't want to see his style of anchored putting stroke thrown out.