Nick Dougherty grew up watching Thomas Björn and Colin Montgomerie winning Ryder Cups for Europe and tournament titles around the world but at the Laguna National Golf and Country Club it was the experienced duo who had to stand aside and marvel at the young Englishman who tightened his grip on the Caltex Masters, presented by Carlsberg, Singapore 2005.
The 22 year old started the day a shot clear of the field but a superb finish to his third round saw him end the day two ahead of both the Scot and the Dane and the mouthwatering prospect for the crowds who thronged the fairways and greens is the fact that the trio will partner each other once again in the final round three-ball.
With three holes to play Dougherty was two shots off the lead and looking like he was going to bring up the rear of the illustrious grouping. But all that changed with a blistering finish.
Firstly, he drained a 30 foot birdie putt on the 16th, fired a majestic four iron to six feet and holed for a birdie two on the 17th before punching the air with delight when he holed from ten feet at the 18th for a closing birdie three after a brave nine iron approach shot hugged the back edge of the putting surface.
It meant he had carded a third round 68 for a 13 under par total of 203, two shots clear of Björn and Montgomerie who carded 67 and 69 respectively for 11 under par 205, their chances of sharing pole position disappearing when both bogeyed the short 17th.
“I was a bit shaky out there at the start, it is a lot of pressure because they are guys that I grew up watching on television and I admire both players tremendously,” admitted Dougherty.
“But I am playing well at the moment and I felt like I held my own from tee to green and I was definitely as strong as them from tee to green. Thomas is a magnificent putter, regardless of if he makes or misses them, he always looks like he is going to make them and Colin is the same and that is something I noticed today, that is something that is going to have to improve if I am to be winning tournaments regularly.
“When they have off putting days they still make their fair share, but this week I have hit a few iffy putts and I had a couple of twitches on 25 footers today, but that last one makes up for that and I suppose it is drive for show and putt for dough.
“It was great fun and I cherish the fact that if I am going to win this I have to beat two of golf’s great players. I love it, I love that. I would take a win however it comes but to have a chance to win a golf tournament having those two guys on my tail is fantastic.
“It is great fun and that is why I play the game. To have that many people watching today as well and to put in a performance I am pretty proud of, it is awesome.”
Björn, whose last European Tour win was the 2002 BMW International Open, endured a true rollercoaster of a round, pitching in from eagle three at the 15th, double bogeying the sixth, and throwing in seven birdies and two other bogeys for good measure.
“Yes, my round had everything,” said the Dane. “There was a lot of good stuff in there but there were a couple of mistakes as well. But it's always nice when you have seven birdies and an eagle because you know you are doing the right things.
“I'm not playing my best but I'm getting it around the golf course as well as I can. The important thing today was not to play yourself out of the golf tournament but to be in with a chance tomorrow.”
Björn was also fulsome in his praise of the young tournament leader who he encouraged wherever possible on the way round.
“He played well all day,” he said. “He didn't putt that well early on, but he got what he deserved in the end. He stuck in there and hit some wonderful shots. I think it was difficult for him early on in terms of nerves, but he will have it a lot easier tomorrow. He's playing very well.”
Montgomerie said at the end of his disappointing second round 71 that he would score in the 60s in the third round and lead. He got the first part of his prophecy right but not the second part thanks to the intervention of Dougherty.
“I’m still very much in the tournament,” said the Scot. “There is nothing wrong with my golf and it's just that I haven't holed enough birdies. But there is all to play for tomorrow and I am out again with Nick and Thomas and that is nice and they are good to play with.
”I came from four strokes back last year to win and there was two players four ahead of me and there is one now and he's just two ahead. So I am in a much better position than I was in last year and we'll just see what develops.”
Two of the best rounds of the third day were posted by Peter Hedblom who returned a 66 and Maarten Lafeber who posted a 67. It left the Swede and the Dutchman tied together in fourth place on ten under par 206.
