Boutier’s 1-under leads rain-delayed LPGA Texas Classic

LA QUINTA, Calif. – Jon Rahm will need another final-round comeback if he wants to win the Desert Classic for a second consecutive year. Rahm shot 68 at PGA West’s Stadium Course on Saturday. At 16-under 196 (66-66-68), he is six shots behind 54-hole leader Phil Mickelson. Rahm made eight birdies Saturday but also had two bogeys. “It was good,� Rahm said. “I would say it was a B, B-plus. … The first five holes is what cost me, going 1 over par on those holes, hitting it pretty good. It was the one part of the course that if I had shot 1 or 2 under like you can, it would have been a great round.� Rahm started his round with four consecutive pars before hitting his second shot on the par-5 fifth hole into the water and making bogey. He birdied his next two holes, though. The Stadium Course will host the Desert Classic’s final round Sunday. Large swings are possible on the water-lined fairways of the Pete Dye design, but Mickelson has just one over-par hole thus far this week. He made double-bogey in the second round after hitting his approach into the water on the Nicklaus Tournament Course’s 18th hole. Mickelson shot a bogey-free 66 at the Stadium Course on Saturday. “I’m going to need to play really well and I’m going to need the leaders to have a slow start, but anything can happen,� said Rahm, who’s 69th in the FedExCup standings. Southern California has been the site of Rahm’s two TOUR wins. He overcame a final-round deficit in each win, as well. Rahm was three behind when he started the final round of the 2017 Farmers Insurance Open. He won by three shots after shooting a 65 that included eagles on Torrey Pines’ two back-nine par-5s. He was two back after the first three rounds of last year’s Desert Classic. He shot 67 on Sunday, then beat Andrew Landry in a playoff.

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A star-studded field has gathered near Hollywood for the PGA TOUR’s annual stop at historic Riviera Country Club. That means this week’s Featured Groups are loaded with players who can be identified by just a single name. Tiger. Rory. JT. Phil. DJ. Jordan. They’ll all be on PGA TOUR LIVE this week. PGA TOUR LIVE’s broadcasts on Thursday and Friday will begin at 9:30 a.m. Eastern. After the Featured Groups, Featured Holes coverage will run from 3-6 p.m. on Thursday and 4-8 p.m. on Friday. The Featured Holes are Riviera’s famous 10th hole, a drivable par-4, and the par-3 16th. The weekend broadcasts will begin at 10 a.m. with Featured Holes coverage followed by the CBS simulcast. PGA TOUR LIVE also can be viewed on Twitter on Thursday and Friday. Coverage will begin at 9:30 a.m. Eastern and end at approximately 11 a.m. Here’s a closer look at the players you’ll see on PGA TOUR LIVE this week. (Note: FedExCup ranking in parentheses) THURSDAY Tiger Woods (175), Rory McIlroy (NR), Justin Thomas (10) Thomas and McIlroy are the past two FedExCup champions, while Woods is the only man to win the Cup more than once. Woods, who’s made 10 starts at Riviera, is still seeking his first victory in his hometown event. He first played here in 1992 as a 16-year-old but this will be his first appearance at Riviera since 2006. He is coming off a T23 finish in his return to the TOUR at Torrey Pines. Thomas, the reigning FedExCup champion, won earlier this season at THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES. Phil Mickelson (18), Matt Kuchar (83), Tommy Fleetwood (160) There could be some trash talk in this grouping of prospective Ryder Cup opponents. Mickelson and Kuchar have been stalwarts for the U.S. team in Presidents and Ryder cups, while Fleetwood seems like a lock to represent Europe for the first time this year. Fleetwood, who’s playing his first season as a PGA TOUR member, is coming off an impressive win in Abu Dhabi. He has finished no worse than sixth in his past four worldwide starts. Mickelson, a two-time winner at Riviera, seems to be closing in on his first win in nearly five years; he’s coming off a T5 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and runner-up finish at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Kuchar, runner-up to Jordan Spieth at last year’s Open Championship, also finished fifth in Phoenix. FRIDAY Jordan Spieth (80), Patrick Cantlay (11), Kevin Chappell (48) UCLA is just four miles from Riviera, and Bruins fans will be able to cheer for two alums in this group. Chappell won the 2008 NCAA individual title while a Bruin, leading UCLA to the team title. Cantlay was the world’s No. 1 amateur during his tenure at UCLA. He won his first PGA TOUR title earlier this season at the Shriners for Children Hospitals Open. Spieth, the 2015 FedExCup champ, has good memories here. He led Texas to the 2012 NCAA title at Riviera in his lone full season for the Longhorns. Spieth beat Thomas in the championship match between Texas and Alabama, holing a 4-iron for eagle on No. 15 en route to a 3-and-2 win over his good friend. Dustin Johnson (3), Adam Scott (165), Bubba Watson (166) This group features three former winners of the Genesis Open, including the defending champ. Johnson won here last year after finishing 2nd-T2-4th in his previous three starts at Riviera. Johnson has a victory and two runners-up in his past three official PGA TOUR starts. Watson, who will participate in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game this week at Staples Center, won the Genesis Open in 2014 and 2016. Scott won an unofficial victory here in 2005 after the tournament was shortened to 36 holes because of inclement weather.

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Aditi Ashok missed out on a medal at the Tokyo Olympics by just one stroke.

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