Nick Watney News

Playing a recreational round at La Cumbre CC in Santa Barbara, ex-Fresno State star and current PGA Tour pro Nick Watney posted a 12-under 59 that bettered the course record by three strokes.

Anytime I'm hitting an approach with a short iron or wedge, I feel like it's a great opportunity to pick up a stroke.

Nick Watney strains to see his ball on the second green at TPC Sawgrass. The penalty of missing greens at The Players Championship is so severe that even players with great short games struggle.

Phil Mickelson and Nick Watney wound up tied for the lead Saturday at the PGA Tour's Wells Fargo Championship, but minus much in the way of separation from the rest of the field.

Derek Ernst went from Q-School to the winner's circle in five months. Ernst topped a Wells Fargo Championship leaderboard that included names like Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy and Nick Watney on Sunday.

Some might think that coming out of nowhere for one's first PGA Tour victory, as Derek Ernst did, ought to earn the golfer a spot in the Power Rankings.

Derek Ernst didn't come out of nowhere to win the Wells Fargo Championship. He actually was driving a rental car toward Athens, Ga., the fourth alternate who figured he might as well spend the week playing in the minor leagues.

Derek Ernst went from Q-School to the winner's circle in five months. Ernst topped a Wells Fargo Championship leaderboard that included names like Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy and Nick Watney on Sunday.

A week like no other at Quail Hollow held one final surprise Sunday when 22-year-old rookie Derek Ernst birdied the 18th hole to force a playoff, and then won the Wells Fargo Championship on the first extra hole against David Lynn of England.

As play comes to end an end Saturday, Phil Mickelson and Nick Watney are co-leaders heading into the final round on Sunday at 8 under par.

If ever there were an example of saving the best for last, Woodland provided it Saturday during the third round of the Wells Fargo Championship.

Phil Mickelson's ball was just above the edge of the cart path, slightly below his feet, when he decided to hit a hard fade around the trees toward the green.

MAY 04: Phil Mickelson hits a shot on the 18th hole during the third round of the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club on May 4, 2013 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

On a windy day at Quail Hollow, Mickelson could only manage a one-over round of 73, carding three bogeys and a double-bogey at the 15th to open the door for Watney who signed for a 71 despite a double-bogey of his own at the 17th.

Or maybe he's just had a lot of good bounces for two days. Mickelson opened with a pair of 15-foot birdie putts, dropped in a 40-foot putt at the turn and made back-to-back birdies late in his round Friday.

Apr 13, 2013; Augusta, GA, USA; Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot on the 1st hole during the third round of the 2013 The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

The Northern Irishman won the tournament at Quail Hollow in 2010 thanks to a spectacular closing 62 and, while he was not in quite that form on this occasion, the world number two was sat comfortably in a share of the lead after the opening round.

Robert Garrigus played his final three holes in 3 under to shoot 67 and move into a tie for lead as the players in the morning wave put the finishing touches on their first rounds at the Wells Fargo Championship.

After knocking on victory's door three times in the past month, Billy Horschel had to endure two weather delays Sunday before claiming his first victory on the PGA Tour, the 2013 Zurich Classic of New Orleans .

In one of the Streak for the Cash picks from the NBA Playoffs the Denver Nuggets and Ty Lawson will try to get home court back from Golden State.