Reuters – England’s Justin Rose recovered from a precarious start at Valderrama to
maintain his hold on the 2007 Volvo Masters and The European Tour Order of Merit going into the final day of the season.
Rose dropped three shots in the first two holes of his third round to allow his title – and Harry Vardon Trophy - rival Padraig Harrington of Ireland to wipe out a four shot overnight leadin the blink of an eye.
However, 27 year old Rose had fully repaired the damage by the 11th hole and by the end of the round, with his Irish opponent playing ragged golf at times, remained four shots ahead of Harrington to go into Sunday's final round, having carded a level par 71 for a four under par total of 209.
Harrington, after a similar 71, his third of the week, now shares second place with another Englishman in Simon Dyson. The blond Yorkshireman had his sights on Rose’s pole position but three putted the 17th for par and the 18th for bogey and a round of 69 which denied him outright second place. However he did have the consolation of carding seven birdies, including all four par threes.
Germany's Martin Kaymer, favourite to land the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award after this week, hauled himself up to a share of fourth place on 216, three over par, with the best round of the week, a 66.
Rose began somewhat calamitously, coming up short on the first from the middle of the fairway and needing three more shots to get down, while Harrington made a 15ft birdie putt after driving into the tree line.
That halved Rose's four shot overnight lead. When the Englishman then hit through the second green and needed four more shots to hole out, the rivals for the Order of Merit title were level.
Harrington found water on the long fifth to bogey, however, while Rose nosed back in front by scrambling par from near the rocks at the hazard.
A birdie at the next by Harrington put the pair level but three birdies in the four holes around the turn saw Rose take charge again as he holed out brilliantly round one of Europe’s trickiest courses.
"I'm delighted to still be four ahead after that start," Rose said. "After the second hole I was a
bit shell-shocked. At the third tee, though, I told myself I was still sharing the lead so get on with it.
"My caddie reminded me that sometimes I'm good when my back's against the wall. It was either get over it or ruin the whole round. Two years ago I would have panicked but this time I took stock and regrouped."
With Order of Merit leader Ernie Els of South Africa absent this week, Rose is determined to complete the job by claiming the season-ending title and ending any doubts where him and Harrington, who is just €667 in front of him, need to finish to win the money-list.
"It's as clear as that," added Rose. "Win here tomorrow and win both.This is not an opportunity that presents itself that often. The realisation came to me last week that I really wanted it."
Harrington said he admired the way Rose had fought back. "It's in his hands tomorrow," The Open Champion and reigning European Number One conceded.
"I'm not going to get away with not having a good day tomorrow but the advantage is with him. He did awfully well to finish level par after that start."
The outcome of the Order of Merit is now virtually certain to be between Rose and Harrington with the only other players with a chance of the title at the start of the week, Swedes Henrik Stenson and Niclas Fasth, out of the hunt. Only a collapse by the main protagonists would allow Els to stay on top.