Tiger Woods moved within touching distance of a successful defence of the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open TPC of Europe by opening up a two stroke lead over a bunched field after three rounds at Gut Kaden in Hamburg.
The world’s No.1 shot a flawless five under par 67 for a total of 207, nine under par, to recreate the situation after 54 holes last year at St.Leon Rot when he also led by two strokes and converted it into a three shot victory.
This time Woods heads a leaderboard packed with quality. Five players are waiting to pounce on seven under – Lee Westwood, Miguel Angel Jiménez, Emanuele Canonica, Geoff Ogilvy and Darren Clarke, the player who beat Woods in the final of the WGC-Andersen Consulting Match Play Championship.
However every one of them will be aware of the fact that Woods has lost just once when leading going into the last day, and that was in his first season as a professional. Since then he has won 13 successive tournaments in which he was in front with a round to play.
Woods, seeking his third European Tour victory, said: “To be honest I don’t know why I’m a good front runner. I just go out and play as hard as I possibly can. I just know I would rather be in the lead than coming from behind.”
Westwood admitted he was fully aware of Woods’ awesome record, but after a third round 69 hoisted him into a share of second, he isn’t unhappy at playing in the penultimate three-ball behind Woods, Clarke and young Australian Ogilvy, who fired a superb 66.
Just seven days earlier, Westwood confessed to feeling in the depths of despair. This weekend he believes he has a strong chance of winning and commented: “Sometimes it’s better to play in front of Tiger, the way the crowds are with cameras and that hassle which comes with it. Maybe it's better I’m just plodding along in front.”
He added: “I’m not intimidated by him. I don’t think you stand much of a chance if you are intimidated by him. Actually it helped me this week with Tiger in the field. I am certainly more up for it because he’s here.”
Clarke, assisted by an eagle at the sixth, fired a 68 to move into position to strike while a total of 22 players are within four strokes of the lead. That includes Colin Montgomerie, who bounced back to form with a 68 which included three two's and a sublime three iron to one inch at the last for a closing birdie three.
Montgomerie attributed his new ebullience to a putting lesson from David Leadbetter. The guru of the golfing world recommended five changes to the Scot’s putting style, and it paid off. He said: “It’s a radical change but I am on line again. I know it’s right and I’ll keep working on it and hope for a decent score tomorrow to help me prepare for my main goal which is to win the Volvo PGA title again.”
Round 3 Video Highlights
