Webb Simpson has first PGA Tour title in his sights

Webb Simpson established a three-stroke lead over Bubba Watson midway through the final round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

The pair were locked on 12- under overnight and both men made blistering starts. Simpson carded a birdie at the first and an eagle at the par-5 second, while Watson matched his eagle before going into the lead with birdies at the third and fourth.

But, while Simpson picked up further birdies at the fifth, eighth and 10th, with his only blemish coming in the form of a bogey at the sixth, Watson carded a double at the ninth.

It meant the 25-year-old from Raleigh in North Carolina sat five under for the round at 17 under overall, with Watson three strokes back.

One stroke behind Watson were South Korea's KJ Choi and George McNeill, three under through 12 and 11 respectively, with Jason Dufner, five under through 17, and Australia's Matt Jones, two under after 14, a further stroke behind.

England's Luke Donald was the leading European, two under for his round and nine under overall with two holes to play.

Watson got up and down from a greenside bunker to birdie the last and hold a share of the lead with Simpson after the third round.

Left-hander Watson, who had been one stroke ahead overnight, splashed out to five feet at the par-5 18th and coolly sank the putt for a two-under-par 70 at the TPC Louisiana.

That gave the long-hitting American a total of 204, putting him level with Simpson, who had reeled off five consecutive birdies from the par-3 third on the way to a flawless 67.

At one point, Simpson led the field by two on another hot and breezy day in Louisiana but he failed to make any birdies on the back nine before being caught by Watson's late surge.