Hoch Shoots a 66 to Share Doral Lead

Scott Hoch finally found a swing that worked and a putting stroke that couldn’t fail Saturday to shoot a six-under-par 66 and share the lead with Bob Tway heading into the final round of the Ford Championship at Doral in Miami.

Hoch shortened his swing to compensate for a sore left wrist and went on a tear, making birdies on seven of his final 11 holes.

He was at 14-under 202 and will play in the final group with Tway, who parred the final eight holes for a three-under 69.

“After five holes, I told my caddie, ‘It doesn’t look like we’re going to get it done today.’ I was trying different swings and it wasn’t working,” Hoch said. “All of a sudden, things clicked on No. 8 and I started hitting good shot after good shot.”

Jim Furyk finished with a 69 and was one stroke out of the lead at 203 with Paraguay’s Carlos Franco, who shot a 68.

Hoch nearly pulled out Thursday morning until he hit his final 10 balls on the practice range and felt good enough to start. Now, he has a good chance to win for the 11th time on the PGA Tour.

“I’m as surprised as you are,” Hoch said.

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Ernie Els bogeyed the troublesome 18th hole but still finished with a three-under 69 to grab a share of the lead of the Dubai Desert Classic in the United Arab Emirates.

Els birdied the 15th, 16th and 17th holes, giving him a three-round total of 13-under 203.

The South African is tied with Alastair Forsyth of Scotland and David Lynn of England.

Lynn and Forsyth, who has led from the start, also shot three-under 69s.

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Bruce Lietzke made seven birdies before bogeying the 18th hole to fall into a three-way tie for the lead with Tom Jenkins and Eamonn Darcy at the end of the second round of the MasterCard Classic at Mexico City.

Lietzke finished with a four-under 68 to tie Jenkins and Darcy at nine-under.

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Martha Burk set a Tuesday deadline for Augusta, Ga., authorities reviewing her request to protest during the Masters, saying she’ll sue if she doesn’t get an answer by then.

Burk, lead critic of Augusta National Golf Club’s all-male membership, wants permission to protest along Washington Road, the main thoroughfare across the street from the club. She did not specify whom she would sue.

Sheriff Ronald Strength has said that allowing demonstrations on the road could pose a safety hazard.