Paul Casey and Ian Poulter hold the joint lead at the Honda Classic

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/mar/02/paul-casey-ian-poulter-joint-lead-honda-classic

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The English pair of Paul Casey and Ian Poulter both have an excellent chance to end their long wait for a PGA Tour title as they hold the joint lead at the Honda Classic.

Bad weather has forced the final round to be concluded on Monday, with Casey and Poulter out in front on seven under par after nine and seven holes respectively.

Patrick Reed is one shot back after seven holes while Scotland’s Russell Knox is among a cluster of players on four under, while Saturday’s overnight leader Pádraig Harrington still has a chance despite dropping back.

It was Poulter who surged into the outright lead after 54 holes – the first time he has ever done so on the PGA Tour – by three shots. The 39-year-old Ryder Cup star recorded four birdies in a third-round 66 but having made just one bogey in his last 40 holes, Poulter dropped back at the fifth hole of his final round as a shanked tee shot into the water led to a double bogey five.

He was then in the water again on his next hole for a bogey yet he recovered on the seventh by driving his tee shot to within three feet for birdie and move level with Casey, who was in blistering form in his final round.

The 37-year-old, whose only PGA Tour triumph was at the Shell Houston Open in 2009, was six shots adrift of his countryman after a third-round 68 but propelled himself into contention with birdies at three of his first four holes in the late afternoon.

He then ended his day with a good approach to six feet before rolling in for yet another birdie as darkness approached at Palm Beach. Poulter and Casey’s team-mate at the 2004 and 2008 Ryder Cups, Harrington, dropped back to three under after a forgettable day. A third-round 71 did not ruin his chances but he is currently three over after seven holes.