• The Crosswater Club at Sunriver Resort is the site of this week's JELD-WEN Tradition. In its initial playing last year, the 7,436-yard course proved to be a tough one, ranking seventh on the Tour in difficulty and playing to a stroke average of 72.857.
• You'd like to have a good lead heading into the final two holes at the Crosswater Club this weekend with the 17th and 18th holes playing among the toughest on Tour. The par-3 17th was the 27th most difficult hole on Tour last year with a stroke average of 3.340 and the par-4 finishing hole was the 31st most difficult playing to a stroke average of 4.317
Eduardo Romero has a definite opinion about the favorite this week in the JELD-WEN Tradition.
"You'll have to play pretty well to beat me," the 2006 champion said. "My game is unbelievable right now. I'm pretty surprised by myself."
Romero, set to open play on the Crosswater Course, is coming off a victory two weeks ago in the U.S. Senior Open, and also won the Dick's Sporting Goods Open in July.
"This tour is my tour now," said Romero, who played most of his career on the European circuit. "This is my house."
Defending champ McNulty among many tied for lead at JELD-WEN Tradition
Mark McNulty has a simple explanation for his recent success at the JELD-WEN Tradition. He loves the Crosswater Course.
"I stand on the first tee and I just feel comfortable," the defending champion said Thursday after firing a 5-under 67 for a share of the first-round lead at the fourth of the Champions Tour's five majors. "Everybody has golf courses where you just look down there and you can't see anything. The comfort zone is the most important thing."
Simpson and Langer share halfway lead in JELD-WEN Tradition
Two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer shot a 6-under 66 in 100-degree heat Friday for a share of the second-round lead with Tim Simpson in the JELD-WEN Tradition, the fourth of the five Champions Tour majors.
Langer and Simpson had 10-under 134 totals at the Crosswater Club. Simpson shot a second straight 67 despite hip and back problems that he said could jeopardize the rest of the tournament for him.
Fred Funk (66), Jay Haas (68) and Mike Goodes (68) were a stroke back, and Tom Watson (64) followed at 8 under. Defending champion Eduardo Romero, the U.S. Senior Open winner, was 5 under after a 65.
Langer, a two-time winner this year and the Champions Tour's money leader, was 12 under after birdieing eight of the first 15 holes. But the German star dropped two strokes with bogeys at 16 and 18.
For the first time in his career, Fred Funk will enter the final round of a major tournament with the lead.
"I'll be a little nervous or have some anxiety tomorrow," said the 52-year-old Funk, who led after two rounds at the U.S. Senior Open two weeks ago. "But I think if you don't have that, there is something wrong with you."
Funk moved into position for his first major victory on the Champions Tour, shooting a bogey-free 7-under 65 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead over Jay Haas after the third round of the JELD-WEN Tradition
Funk gains first major with three-shot win at JELD-WEN Tradition
Fred Funk won the JELD-WEN Tradition for his first Champions Tour major, closing with a 3-under 69 on Sunday for three-stroke victory over Mike Goodes at the Crosswater Club.
he 52-year-old Funk, also the winner of the season-opening MasterCard Championship in Hawaii, had a 19-under 269 total. He shot a bogey-free 65 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead over Jay Haas into the final round.
Funk, an eight-time champion on the PGA TOUR and four-time winner on the Champions Tour, opened up a six-shot lead Sunday, then overcame a shaky finish.
After finishing the front nine in 33, Funk had birdies at Nos. 11, 14 and 15 to get to 22 under. He made a double bogey on 16 before waiting out a 63-minute delay because of thunder and lightning, then returned to bogey the 17th.
Haas, the Senior PGA Championship winner, shot a 72 to match Tom Watson (70) at 14 under. Scott Hoch (71) was 13 under, followed by Scott Simpson (70) at 12 under.
JELD-WEN Tradition Aug. 14 - 17
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