Stricker, Baddeley up by one; LPGA event is cut to 18 holes

The roar that shook Cog Hill on Saturday could mean only one thing -- an eagle from the fairway -- and it was loud enough that it could belong to only one player.

It even got Tiger Woods to turn around.

Steve Stricker holed out with a wedge for eagle on the eighth hole to keep pace with Woods, then he surged ahead with birdie chances on every hole in a tidy round of seven-under-par 64 that left him tied with Aaron Baddeley in the BMW Championship at Lemont, Ill.

Baddeley birdied his final two holes for a 65 that allowed him to join Stricker at 15-under 198 and play in the final group. Woods is a shot back after a 65.

Stricker, who won the first playoff event at the Barclays for his first victory in 6 1/2 years, is wildly popular in these parts, having played golf at Illinois and grown up nearby in Wisconsin. Another victory would give him a commanding lead in the chase for the FedEx Cup, with Woods or the absent Phil Mickelson having to win the Tour Championship to catch him.

Woods missed only one fairway and two greens, and figured his putter kept him from one of his best scores of the year.

“I felt like six under was the highest score I could have shot,” Woods said. “But I’m in a good spot going into tomorrow.”

The LPGA Tour shortened the rain-soaked NW Arkansas Championship to 18 holes, setting up a bizarre finish today that will be closed to the public.

The tournament was originally scheduled for 54 holes, but it began 4 1/2 hours late Friday. Play was suspended again around 11 a.m. Saturday. All but 32 players had completed the first round when the second delay began -- and the remaining golfers were expected back this morning to finish.

The public won’t have access to the event. Adam Harris, the tournament’s marketing and communications coordinator, cited flooding at parking lots and safety hazards at the course as reasons for closing off the tournament.

“The course is unplayable, and it’s really unwalkable as well,” Harris said.

Stats and money from the event will be unofficial.

Stacy Lewis, the NCAA champion from nearby Arkansas, was atop the leaderboard after a seven-under 65 as she tries to become the first amateur to win an LPGA Tour event since JoAnne Carner in 1969.

Jin Young Pak appeared to be the only player with a decent chance to catch Lewis. She was at five under with four holes remaining.

Former Murrieta Valley High star Rickie Fowler and Florida junior Billy Horschel won both their matches as the United States and Great Britain & Ireland battled to a 6-6 tie in the Walker Cup at Newcastle, Northern Ireland.

The Americans, who lead, 32-7-1, in the event for amateurs, have not won overseas since 1991.

Today’s final round features four alternate-shot matches in the morning and eight singles in the afternoon. The United States, which won two years ago outside Chicago, needs to reach 12 points to retain the cup.