Ian Woosnam takes a one shot lead into the final round of the inaugural Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open as he chases a third European Tour title in the land of his fathers. Woosnam came charging out of the blocks with six birdies in a front nine of 30 to move to 13 under par and, although he advanced no further over the back nine of the spectacular Wentwood Hills course, still leads Dane Steen Tinning by a shot.
Woosnam spelled out his intentions with birdie putts from four and five feet on the first two holes. Another brace of birdies followed on the fourth and fifth holes and when he added another two on the eighth and ninth, holing a 45 foot putt on the latter, the home favourite was motoring. But he was unable to build on his superb start and nine pars later was round in 66.
“I can’t get past the number 13,” he said. “I got there going out but didn’t give myself many chances coming back. I played steady but didn’t get it close enough.”
Woosnam has won 28 European Tour titles and victory on Sunday would be his third on home soil in three different decades.
“Tomorrow I just have to go out and keep playing the way I am and hope it happens. It’ll be a matter of who holes the putts tomorrow. You tend to get a little nervous when you haven’t been up there for a while but I’ve had a few seconds and it is time to enjoy it now, having the buzz of the excitement and be able to control my swing to go with the nervousness.
“I’ll be nervous tomorrow, no doubt about that. I’ve always believed in playing for Wales and all I want to do is play my best and if it happens it will be great for Wales, great for Celtic Manor and great for me.”
Tinning is also expecting to be nervous but hopes the time is now right to claim his maiden European Tour title having recovered from a crushed thumb last year when he was struck by a golf ball on a company golf day. Work on his mental approach with ten-times world champion canoeist Arne Nielsson has also helped his game as a round of 66 demonstrated.
“Obviously I will be shaking a little bit to begin with but hopefully that will disappear and I hope to play well after that. If I can go out there and play well I am not so much playing against Ian as putting a good score together and I hope the supporters can appreciate that.”
Two shots further back lie the English pair of Ian Garbutt and Steve Howell along with Sweden’s Henrik Nystrom, back on form after a spell on the Challenge Tour.
Day 3 Video Highlights
