Peter Baker and Ian Woosnam, who formed a magnificent partnership in the 1993 Ryder Cup at The Belfry, will be re-united in the final group of the Linde German Masters with one of the European Tour’s biggest titles on the line.
Baker, 32 next week, takes a one stroke lead into the last day, after shooting a third round 69 for a nine under par total. He is one ahead of Woosnam, who fired a superb 66 in miserable, windy conditions, and Vijay Singh, the third member of that group.
Singh, tied second last year at Gut Larchenhof, one stroke behind Colin Montgomerie, compiled a solid 70 in the worsening conditions to share second spot with Woosnam and Alex Cejka of Germany.
It has been a strange six years for Baker since that exhilarating Ryder Cup baptism at The Belfry. He hasn’t won since that year, 1993, although he has been a regular money winner on the Tour.
In the third round he launched his charge by sinking an 80-yard lob wedge at the first hole for an eagle two and followed that up with two birdies in a row to climb above second round leader Jose Rivero at the top of the leader board.
His 69 was a decent effort in the conditions and Baker said: “It’s nice to do well for the first time since the Deutsche Bank –SAP Open, TPC of Europe in May. It must be something to do with the German air!
“I desperately want to win a tournament again. The last time was 1993 and winning is something I really want to do again. I don’t know the reason why it hasn’t happened. It hasn’t been lack of effort.”
Baker was pleased to see his close friend, Woosnam, making a major charge with eight birdies in his third round and joked: “I saw his name on the board and wondered what had happened. I thought maybe he’d missed out a few holes!”
Woosnam attributed his improved putting to his high position going into the last round. He commented: “I putted really well today but I need to drive better. I changed to a cross-handed putting method after three holes and they all started going in for a change.”
He watched the Ryder Cup on television at home for the first time since 1981 and admitted he had nothing but admiration for the way Europe’s No.1, Colin Montgomerie, performed at The Country Club.
“Colin Montgomerie is the best player in the world” he insisted. “I can’t understand why he hasn’t been No.1 in the world many years ago. Day in, day out, he puts the scores in. I think he did himself a lot of good in America..
“He controlled himself well and hopefully he will get a lot of respect from American players and commentators.”
The aforementioned Montgomerie is still right in contention to retain his title and win a record-equalling sixth European Tour title in 1999. He shot a 72 to share fifth place on 209, seven under par, along with Sergio Garcia (also 72) and Rivero (75).
Montgomerie looked at his imperious best in the early holes, birdieing four of the first seven holes to move to 11 under par and a two stroke lead. However he three putted the eighth and ran up a triple bogey seven at the 10th after fluffing two chips and ultimately missing from two feet.
He conceded: “It was just loss of concentration at the 10th. I was going well but I’m very tired and you can see that the top four on the leader board didn’t play in the Ryder Cup at Brookline. I could do with a week when it’s nice and sunny and a nice easy walk. Unfortunately it’s not to be, but I still have an opportunity of winning.”
Singh said: “None of the three days have been easy but I played all right today and made only one long putt for birdie at the sixth. It was a case of trying to forget about the weather.”
Garcia missed a five foot birdie putt on the last which would have moved him into the group on eight under par. However with the exuberance of youth, he was far from dejected and said: “Anything can happen here. There are so many difficult holes.”
