Summerhays takes three-shot Memorial lead as Dufner falters

Daniel Summerhays was surprised to find himself with a three-shot lead after roaring past a faltering Jason Dufner in the third round at the Memorial tournament in Dublin, Ohio on Saturday. Summerhays started the day five strokes behind Dufner, but took only five holes to tie his fellow American for the lead, after Dufner ran up four early bogeys on another fine day at Muirfield Village.Summerhays subsequently pulled away, carding 68 for 13-under 203 to move within sight of a first PGA Tour victory, while Matt Kuchar shot 67 to move into second place on 10-under.Dufner endured a nightmare with the putter and compounded his misery by driving into a water hazard at the last for a closing bogey and a five-over 77, only one shot shy of the day’s worst score.He fell back into a tie for third at nine-under with compatriots Bubba Watson (68) and Justin Thomas (69).Summerhays has not won in 184 previous starts on the PGA Tour, but takes hope from the fact the three previous Memorial tournaments have been won by first-time champions.“I’d love to keep that trend going,” he said. “My goal was to get in contention, be in this situation, and I’m here so I’m really excited for tomorrow to see how I perform.“I definitely didn’t think I would be three shots ahead with a 68. Maybe a 63. It couldn’t have gone for worse for Duf (Dufner) out there.”Summerhays has led after 54 holes three times on the PGA Tour. “I think there’s only a couple of guys who have not gone through the learning curve, said the 33-year-old, who finished a quiet third at last year’s PGA Championship.“My game’s really solid right now. I’ve had two months of playing really good golf and not getting any results.“I drove it really well. I had so many good looks at birdie, so many putts were just so close. Given the circumstances, the Memorial tournament, performing under the gun, it was really fun.”Dufner, meanwhile, did not make a putt longer than five feet, but took at least some consolation from still being within sight of the lead. “Today was pretty pathetic on all accounts so I’ll have to play better tomorrow,” he said. “Just got off to a bad start, couldn’t get anything going and then you’re fighting it.“I’m in good position, not as good as I’d like to be but you don’t get to shoot 77 very often and still have a chance to win.” Leading third-round scores 203 — Daniel Summerhays  66-69-68206 — Matt Kuchar 69-70-67207 — Bubba Watson 71-68-68, Justin Thomas 67-71-69, Jason Dufner 65-65-77208 — Rickie Fowler 70-66-72, Jamie Lovemark 69-69-70209 — Kevin Streelman 73-69-67, Kevin Kisner 70-69-70, Jordan Spieth 66-72-71210 — Jason Kokrak 73-67-70, Shane Lowry (IRL) 72-68-70, David Lingmerth (SWE) 65-74-71211 — James Hahn 74-72-65, Jim Herman 70-74-67, Steve Stricker 74-68-69, Pat Perez 70-72-69, An Byeong-Hun 68-72-71212 — Ross Fisher (ENG) 73-69-70, Bud Cauley 75-67-70, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 70-71-71, Phil Mickelson 70-70-72, Kyle Stanley 74-67-71, Marc Leishman (AUS) 70-70-72, Lucas Glover 67-73-72, Emiliano Grillo (ARG) 71-68-73Mickelson to skip US Open for daughter’s graduationPhil Mickelson plans to miss this month’s US Open to attend his daughter Amanda’s high school graduation ceremony, the five-times major champion told reporters on Saturday. The news means Mickelson’s quest to complete a career grand slam seems likely to have to wait another year. Six times runner-up at the only major championship he has never won, the 46-year-old has not officially withdrawn, but it seems only a first-round weather washout or a late date change of the graduation ceremony could allow him to participate.The first round of the US Open at Erin Hills in Wisconsin will be on Thursday, June 15, while Amanda’s graduation ceremony is in southern California that same morning.“My daughter is … the school president. She’ll be giving the commencement speech for the school and I’m going to be there,” Mickelson told reporters after the third round of the Memorial tournament in Dublin, Ohio. “Unfortunately, it comes around 10 in the morning Pacific (12 PM CT) so there’s just really no way to make it, no matter what the tee time is. “It’s obviously the tournament I want to win the most … but this is one of those moments you look back on life and just don’t want to miss it.”Mickelson said he had notified the US Golf Association (USGA) of his decision well in advance so that the organising body as well as his replacement would not be caught off guard. “We applaud and appreciate the fact that he is being pro-active so that the USGA can make any appropriate adjustments,” USGA executive director Mike Davis said in a statement.“There’s no sense in withdrawing today but I want the alternate to know,” Mickelson said, still holding out a glimmer of hope he will be able to play.“You never know. Maybe something freaky will happen … something happens with the commencement time-wise.“(Or) if there was even a two-or-three hour (weather delay at the golf) I could very possibly make it.”A US Open victory would make Mickelson only the sixth golfer to win the grand slam of US Masters, US Open, British Open and US PGA Championship, joining Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.