Kuchar, English take four-shot lead at Franklin Templeton Shootout

Kuchar, English take four-shot lead at Franklin Templeton Shootout

Published Dec. 14, 2013 12:00 a.m. ET

Matt Kuchar and Harris English took a four-stroke lead Saturday in the Franklin Templeton Shootout, playing the back nine in 9-under 27 in the better-ball round for a 12-under 60.

Kuchar and English were 20 under the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort's Tiburon course. They opened with a 64 on Friday in modified alternate-shot play. The team event ends Sunday with a scramble.

Retief Goosen and Fredrik Jacobson were second after a 61.

The teams of Ian Poulter-Lee Westwood and Charles Howell III-Justin Leonard were tied for third at 13 under. Poulter and Westwood shot 61, and Howell and Leonard had a 67.

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Kuchar and English had nine birdies and an eagle on Nos. 8-17.

"It's pretty cool," English said. "You just kind of get on a hot streak and you don't really think about anything other than making birdies.

They had a chance for a 59, but Kuchar's 14-foot putt on 18 missed to the left.

Goosen and Jacobson had five straight birdies on Nos. 3-7 and row in a row on Nos. 14-17..

"Overall, not too bad, but yeah, four shots behind tomorrow, we need something really low," Goosen said.

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