Rickie Fowler takes the lead at Wells Fargo Championship

Rickie Fowler is looking to jumpstart his season at a course where he first won on the PGA Tour.

Fowler shot a four-under-par 68 on Saturday to take the third-round lead at the Wells Fargo Championship.

Fowler, who broke through at Quail Hollow Club in 2012 for his first tour title, had a one-stroke lead over Roberto Castro, with Justin Rose and James Hahn two strokes back.

Fowler won The Players Championship and Deutsche Bank Championship last year and took the European Tour event in Abu Dhabi early this year. Though he blew a late lead and lost the Phoenix Open in a playoff this season, he has the confidence to handle pressure situations in the final round. That’s something he admitted he didn’t have five years ago.

“It’s completely different,” Fowler said. “I would say before (it was) maybe not the complete belief or knowledge of knowing what to do and how to win to get the job done. But now it’s fun to go out there and go take care of business.”

Castro was atop the leaderboard most of the day, but bogeyed the 18th hole for a 71.

Winless on the tour, he said he’s looking forward to playing with Fowler in the final group Sunday.

“If you want to win a tournament out here and really win a marquee event like this one, you’re going to have to grab your hat and play with one of the top five players in the world probably the final round,” Castro said. “So that’s what I’ve got tomorrow so I’m excited about it.”

Fowler parred the first seven holes Saturday before heating up with three straight birdies on Nos. 8-10. It appeared things were starting to crumble after bogeys on 10 and 12, but Fowler came back strong with three straight birdies starting on No. 14 to pull into a tie for the lead.

He had a little luck along the way.

Fowler avoided potential trouble on the 18th hole when his ball held up in the high grass instead of rolling into the creek along left side of the fairway. Playing with the ball well above his feet, Fowler ripped an iron onto the green and saved par.

Phil Mickelson and defending champion Rory McIlroy struggled, dropping eight shots behind Fowler.

Jutanugarn surges to lead in LPGA Classic

Ariya Jutanugarn birdied eight of the final nine holes to match the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic record at nine-under 63 and take a three-stroke lead.

Seeking her first LPGA Tour victory, the 20-year-old Thai player had a 14-under 202 total.

Ryann O’Toole and Australia’s Minjee Lee were tied for second. They each shot 68.

Maggert, Parnevik share Champions lead

Local favorite Jeff Maggert and Jesper Parnevik shared the Insperity Invitational lead at seven under, leaving John Daly six strokes back in his PGA Tour Champions debut.

Maggert birdied the par-four 18th for a three-under 69, and playing partner Parnevik had a bogey on the par-four 17th in a 68 at The Woodlands Country Club.

Daly followed his opening 70 with a 73 to drop into a tie for 21st at one under. The two-time major champion made four straight bogeys in the middle of the round and rebounded with birdies on 15 and 18. He turned 50 on April 28.

Maggert had four birdies and a bogey. The Woodlands resident and former Texas A&M player led the tour with four victories last year, including major wins at the U.S. Senior Open and Regions Tradition.

Parnevik eagled the par-five 13th and had four birdies and two bogeys. The 51-year-old Swede is winless on the 50-and-over tour.

Hanson on top at Trophee Hassan II

England’s Chris Hanson shot a five-under 67 to take the third-round lead in the European Tour’s Trophee Hassan II at Rabat, Morocco.

Hanson had an eagle, five birdies and two bogeys to reach 6-under 210 at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam. Countryman David Dixon (67) and France’s Clement Berardo (68) were a stroke back.