FORT WORTH, Texas _ For five consecutive seasons, Webb Simpson skipped the opportunity to play in Fort Worth's annual PGA Tour stop because he missed the cut in his first two visits to "Hogan's Alley."
That approach changed last year for the 2012 U.S. Open champion. So have his results at the Dean & DeLuca Invitational, a fact Simpson drove home with Saturday's eighth consecutive under-par round at Colonial Country Club.
This one, a third-round 67, moved Simpson to 9-under par for the tournament and separated the former Wake Forest golfer by two strokes from his closest pursuers on a packed leader board. If he can protect that margin over 18 holes in Sunday's final round, Simpson will add to his collection of four PGA Tour titles.
The primary constants since Simpson, 31, has mixed Colonial back into his playing schedule have been recurring birdie binges and minimal self-inflicted wounds. He used that approach again Saturday, offsetting four birdies with one bogey despite battling 25-mph wind gusts for a third consecutive day.
Because Saturday's challenge also included a heat index of 108 degrees and took its tool on players, caddies and fans, Simpson said persevering at Colonial for 54 holes has felt like thriving at a major championship.
"There is so much thinking involved on every shot, it feels like a major," Simpson said. "I'm more tired after my rounds this week than normal. I'm just trying to shoot under par each round and I've done it so far. I'm thrilled to have the lead."
Simpson is being chased most closely by Paul Casey (7-under) and Irving resident Danny Lee (7-under) among a group of 11 golfers within five strokes of the lead. He'll also arrive after posting scores of 69, 65, 67, 67, 68, 68, 66 and 67 in his past eight trips around Colonial's par-70 venue, starting with the final round of the 2010 event.
Only four players in tournament history have broken par in more than eight consecutive rounds, led by two-time champ Zach Johnson (15).
Simpson ran his streak to eight in a row with a sharp round of ball-striking. He found 14 of 18 greens in regulation while making four birdie putts ranging between six and 15 feet. The lone bogey was a three-putt from 61 feet on No. 8.
Not surprisingly, Simpson considers his return to Fort Worth for last year's event, where he finished third to Jordan Spieth, as one of his savvier decisions of recent vintage.
"I'm glad I'm back," Simpson said. "Should be on the calendar for a few years now."
Spieth, the defending champion, remained in contention for a title defense with a third-round 68 on a day when caddie Michael Greller bowed out after 11 holes because of heat exhaustion. Spieth, who stands five strokes off the lead, said Greller is expected back for Sunday's final round. Spieth is part of a five-player group at 4-under with Masters champ Sergio Garcia.
Because of the potential for overnight storms, tournament officials have grouped players in groups of three for the final round, with golfers starting rounds at No. 1 and No. 10. The earliest groups begin play at 10:14 a.m. The leaders begin at 12:15 p.m. on the first tee.
The use of threesomes means that Simpson will be joined by Casey and Lee, both of whom bagged birdies at No. 18 to conclude their third rounds and carry some momentum into Sunday's showdown with Simpson.
Lee called his 16-foot birdie putt on the final hole something he "really needed" to cap a round when he was indecisive about club selection. Casey, who fired a third-round 68, is the only player in the field who has joined Simpson in breaking par in each of the first three rounds this week.
The No. 14 player in the world golf rankings, who began the week with a 68.07 career scoring average at Colonial, cited a "good calmness" he feels when competing in Fort Worth that he plans to tap into again Sunday.
"It's still a stacked leader board, a lot of brilliant guys near the top of it," Casey said. "But I feel a pretty good calmness. I feel like I'm one of the favorites ... There is more calm (in this situation) than there used to be."
