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RIO DE JANEIRO -- Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson know what its like to play next to each other on a big stage when its all about flag and the gold prize.That was two years ago at the Ryder Cup, and they were undefeated as partners.They will be rivals Sunday, playing under their own flag, each pursuing golfs first Olympic gold medal since 1904.Rose made two eagles in the opening five holes Saturday and did a little shimmy after making a 10-foot par putt at the end for a 6-under 65, giving him a one-shot lead over Stenson going into the final round -- the medal round -- at Olympic Golf Course.After 112 years away, and three days of what amounted to preliminary heats, golf finally gets the feel of being in the Olympics when medals are awarded.Its like all the other sports, Rose said. You work really hard to get into the final, and tomorrow is about a great performance and bringing your best golf when you need it. I have the opportunity, and tomorrow is going to be fun.Rose was at 12-under 201, a slim margin over Stenson in any circumstances, even more considering the Swede is a month away from his some of the best golf ever played when he won the British Open at Royal Troon with the lowest 72-hole score in major championship history.Stenson had another 68, his best moment with a wedge in his hand -- but not for a shot he hit.Walking along the edge of the water on the par-5 10th hole, Stenson spotted a caiman -- a small crocodile in these parts -- and reached over to poke it with the end of his golf club.A little tickle with a lob wedge, Stenson said. I thought it could handle that, and if it would have been twice the size, then you probably need to go into the longer irons. He wasnt too big. He was facing the right way for me.He wound up making birdie on that hole, and two birdies later on the back nine kept him within range of Rose.Its not a two-man race, even if it felt like one.Marcus Fraser, the leader after the first two rounds, hit into a bunker on four straight holes early on and wound up with only one birdie in his round of 72. He was still alone in third place, though he was four shots behind and his lack of length could be factor in trying to keep pace with Rose and Stenson.Fraser was never expecting to be in the Rio Games until four other Australians withdrew.Not in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would come to the Olympics and compete, and now all of a sudden I have a chance of winning a medal, Fraser said. It feels like Im going to wake up from this dream at some point. Hopefully, tomorrow I can go out there and play a bit better than I did today.Bubba Watson kept American hopes alive with a 5-under 67 that featured his own surreal moment. Watson had a 30-foot birdie putt on the 14th hole, but when he took his putter back, a clump of mud dropped to the ground. Watson tried to stop his stroke and failed, so the ball traveled only about 6 feet.It was the funniest thing ever, Watson said. I thought it could have been a bee or a bug. I looked down and I was like, `Thats mud. Where it come from? Mud putter. ... We laughed about it because I was like, `Man, Im going to be famous now. Im going to be a legend in Olympic golf history.It would help to make up six shots on Rose, or even two shots on Fraser, to go home with something.Watson shot 67 and was at 6-under 207 with Emiliano Grillo of Argentina and David Lingmerth of Sweden, both shooting 68. Another shot behind were Matt Kuchar and Padraig Harrington, the Irishman who was part of the panel that presented golfs case when it was voted back into the Olympics.Rickie Fowler had the low round of the blustery day with a 64, though he remained nine shots behind.Rose was four shots off the lead to start the second round, but not for long. He holed a 75-foot pitch for eagle from just short of the third green, where the tees were moved up to make it a 285-yard hole into the wind. Then, he hit 7-iron to 15 feet on the downwind, par-5 fifth hole and made that for another eagle. He took the lead for the first time with a 35-foot putt from off the 12th green.For all the talk about the stars who stayed home, this is just what golf needed in its return to the Olympics. Stenson is highest-ranked player in the field at No. 5, while Rose is at No. 12 and another player hopeful of adding an Olympic gold medal to the U.S. Open trophy he won in 2013.It would mean an awful lot, Rose said. You see what it means to the other Olympic athletes. Once a guy slips a gold medal around his neck, well all understand how important it is.Wholesale Custom Shirts . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. Custom Soccer Shirts Black Friday . Having already announced that the race will start May 9 with three stages in Northern Ireland and Ireland and finish in Trieste on June 1, the rest of the route was unveiled Monday. http://www.customcheapshirts.com/ .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. Custom Shirts Discount . The Redskins announced Monday that the quarterback who led the team to the Super Bowl championship in the 1987 season will serve as a personnel executive. Clearance Custom Shirts Online . Miikka Kiprusoff had just announced his retirement after a decade-long run in Calgary and it would be up to Berra and Ramo to fill the void.SEATTLE - Even Seattles "King" couldnt stop the Mariners slide. In fact, the problems just keep building for the Mariners. Nelson Cruz hit his 12th homer of the season, David Murphy drove in three runs and the Texas Rangers roughed up Seattle ace Felix Hernandez in a 5-2 win on Saturday night, handing the Mariners their eighth straight loss. Hernandez (5-4) was trying to rebound from a poor outing in his last start at Cleveland, but continued to leave pitches up in the zone and Texas took advantage. Murphys two-out double in the second gave Texas a 3-0 lead and Cruz added his solo homer — also with two outs — in the fifth inning. Seattles losing streak is its longest since dropping 17 straight in 2011. "This is where youve got to be tough. Youve got to stay determined, stay persistent, keep coming to the ballpark and knocking on that wall," Seattle manager Eric Wedge said. As if the losing streak wasnt bad enough, Seattle announced after the game that first baseman Justin Smoak suffered an oblique strain checking his swing after an at-bat early in the game. He was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the later innings and will be re-evaluated before Sundays series finale against the Rangers. Smoaks health is a concern, but more important might be figuring out whats happened to Hernandez in his last two starts. Derek Holland continued to pitch well in Seattle, easily getting the better of the matchup against Hernandez. Holland (4-2) went 6 2-3 innings, striking out a season-high 10, allowing no earned runs and winning for the first time since May 8 after a pair of no decisions. Meanwhile, Hernandez was done after 5 2-3 innings, unable to close out the sixth after giving up a triple to Leonys Martin and walking Elvis Andrus. Hernandez finished with nine strikeouts, but the 11 hits were a season high, giving up at least one hit in every inning. According to STATS, its just the second time since the 2010 season that Hernandez has failed to go at least six innings in consecutive starts, after lasting just five innings in his previous start at Cleveland. He went 4 innings and 4 2-3 innings in consecutive starts in September 2012. Hernandez has been bothered by a sore back, but insisted his health is fine. "I feel fine. Its not that," Hernandez said. Texas didnt pound the ball early against Hernandez. None of the fiirst five hits he allowed were hit hard yet were enough that he was quickly trailing.ddddddddddddMitch Moreland opened the second inning with a dribbler down the left field line past the Mariners defensive shift, followed by A.J. Pierzynskis grounder on a hit-and-run that got by Seager playing close at third. Jurickson Profar then dumped a 0-2 sinker over the infield to score Moreland. Pierzynski was thrown out at the plate for the second out of the inning, but Murphy made sure the opportunity wasnt missed with his double to score Profar and Andrus. Hernandez then allowed Cruzs homer in the fifth immediately after getting a double play off the bat of Adrian Beltre. "We just havent missed opportunities when he threw the ball in the strike zone," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "Hes at his best when he can get you to chase some pitches. ... Tonight, when he threw some balls across the plate we were fortunate enough to put them into play." Holland had gone 21 1-3 consecutive scoreless innings against the Mariners at Safeco Field before giving up a two-out, two-run double to Kendrys Morales in the third inning. Holland would not have faced Morales, if not for Elvis Andrus error on a grounder from Michael Morse. With Morse reaching, Morales lined a 0-2 fastball off the top of the wall in right field, missing a home run by only a few feet and Morse racing around from first to score and cut the deficit to 3-2. That ended up being the extent of Seattles offence against the Texas lefty. Holland struck out the side in the fourth and got Jason Bay and Kyle Seager swinging in the fifth after Brendan Ryans leadoff single. Holland retired 12 of the final 15 batters he faced. He couldnt finish off the seventh, getting replaced with two outs after issuing a walk to Bay. Robbie Ross entered and got Seager to pop out on the first pitch. Holland is now 3-0 in his career against the Mariners in Seattle and has yet to allow an earned run against the Mariners in Seattle. Joe Nathan pitched the ninth for his 16th save. NOTES: Texas is 7-2 against Seattle this season. ... Hernandez is now 12-18 all-time against Texas. The Rangers are one of three American League teams that Hernandez has a losing record against. The others are the Angels (7-12) and White Sox (3-5). ... Nathan converted his 36th straight save opportunity on the road. ' ' '