CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The cheers Webb Simpson heard Saturday at Quail Hollow were all for him.
Simpson, who lives about a mile away from the golf course, emerged from a crowded leaderboard with a 12-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole. He finished with a 3-under 69 for a one-shot lead in the Wells Fargo Championship.
Simpson, who played the opening two rounds with crowd favorite Tiger Woods, was among seven players who had a share of the lead at some point in the third round. One of them was Rory McIlroy, who can return to No. 1 in the world this week. He shot 66 and wound up two shots behind.
Five players were tied until Simpson made his birdie, and finished with a good par to reach 14-under 202.
