Langer charges into Regions Tradition lead; Daly at 7 under
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Bernhard Langer avoided the troubles of several other Regions Tradition contenders on a day when swirling wind became a factor.
The result was a four-shot lead. A stroke behind leader Kenny Perry entering play Saturday, Langer shot a 3-under 69 to move to 12-under 204 in the first PGA Tour Champions major of the year - while Perry and others stumbled at Greystone.
"It was a tough day," Langer said. "It was windy, it was swirly, never consistent. The wind, it was all over the place. Played pretty solid, drove the ball fantastic today, really drove it phenomenally, long and straight. Just a couple of short putts that hurt."
The 58-year-old Langer, the Chubb Classic winner in February for his 26th victory on the 50-and-over tour, did miss a 4-foot birdie putt on the final hole.
Perry held the lead after each of the first two rounds but had a double bogey on the opening hole on his way to a 74. He and Scott McCarron, who shot a 72, were tied for second place going into the final round.
John Daly was among five players at 7 under after a 69. Playing in his second PGA Tour Champions event, the two-time major winner had a double bogey, two bogeys, an eagle and five birdies.
Daly eagled the par-15 13 and was 4-under over the final six holes. He's had a double or triple bogey in all three rounds but also has a pair of eagles.
He finished strong again with a birdie on 18 for the second straight day.
"It's been get it going, then lose it, get it going and then lose it," Daly said. "Just hanging in there. But the last four holes so far have been really good to me in this tournament. Finishing strong. It's that third hole or somewhere in the middle, I just seem to keep goofing up."
Langer got his first of four birdies on the second hole, where he's 3 under for the tournament. His only misstep was a bogey on No. 5, a par 5.
McCarron, meanwhile, struggled on the greens after a second-round 66. He said he missed three five-footers and several from 10 feet.
"I wasted a lot of shots out there," he said. "A little disappointing. The greens were a little tougher today, I don't know if they're a little grainier or what from the rains that we had (Friday), but I didn't make anything."
Also at 7 under with Daly were Colin Montgomerie (70), Mark Calcavecchia (71) and Gary Hallberg (68), who doesn't have a full exemption and is playing only his fourth 50-and-over event of the year.
Hallberg is trying to avoid thoughts of what winning a major would mean to his career.
"Your mind starts going there and you have to stop it in its tracks and think of something else, and that's the challenge," he said.
Billy Andrade opened the day tied with Langer but wound up six strokes back with a 75.