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Hope Classic set for 1st-time winner

LA QUINTA, Calif. — Whether it's the precocious rookie, the long-hitting Bubba or another fresh face, there's a good chance somebody will end a long week at the Bob Hope Classic Monday by lifting a PGA Tour trophy for the first time.

Bubba Watson and rookie Alex Prugh finished at 23-under 265 to share a one-stroke advantage over Bill Haas and Tim Clark after four rounds Sunday. Fourteen players still were within five shots of the leaders in a tournament light on star power, but loaded with intriguing possibilities.

Watson, Prugh, Haas and South Africa's Clark have never won on the PGA Tour, while fifth-place Joe Ogilvie has just one win.

"Tomorrow is going to be a tough day no matter if I had the lead, was tied for the lead, or one back, or five back," said Watson, who plans to buy a replica of the General Lee car from "The Dukes of Hazzard" television series if he wins. "Tomorrow is going to be a fun day. This is what we live for. The more chances I get to win, maybe I'll get one to luckily fall in and win one."

Watson, Prugh and Ogilvie all had late chances to create a little separation late Sunday, but all three made mistakes better suited to their amateur playing partners, most of whom stuck around after rain washed out Thursday's play and pushed the finale to Monday.

Watson finished up his 3-under 69 by double-bogeying the final hole, dropping him back into a tie with Prugh, who missed a 3-foot putt to bogey his own final hole. Ogilvie sat two strokes back after a double bogey on his 17th.

"You can't have double bogeys and win the Hope," Ogilvie said.

Actually, you probably can this year. The famed tournament features none of the PGA Tour's top 35 players, creating golden opportunities for the top four players heading into the final round at the Arnold Palmer Private course at PGA West.

After knocking his second shot into the water and then missing a 6-foot putt on the par-4 18th, Watson matched Prugh (70) at 23 under. Haas and Clark both shot 66s, while Ogilvie (68) followed at 21 under, and Mike Weir was in a group another stroke behind after his fourth straight 67.

"The emotions, they're flowing, they're going up and down out there," said Haas, whose father, Jay, won the Hope Classic in 1988. "If there's good weather (Monday), it's going to take a 66 to have a chance. I don't even know if that will win tomorrow."

Prugh, the 25-year-old former University of Washington star making his third PGA Tour start, missed an easy putt to bogey his final hole.

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