Harrington leads but Woods lurking

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2009 Bridgestone Invitational | Round Three | 09 Aug 2009

A strong finish to his third round at the World Golf Championship Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio has given second round leader, Padraig Harrington, a three shot lead over Tiger Woods heading into tomorrow’s final round.

The prospect of a showdown between two of the game’s most prolific winners of major championships in recent years will have golf fans everywhere licking their lips at the prospect.

With his confidence and game now back on track after six months of indifferent form as he rebuilt his golf swing, Harrington has every reason to believe he can hold off Woods who is looking for his seventh title in ten starts at the Firestone Country Club.

“You know, I’m obviously happy with my day’s work,” said Harrington after his round. “The key is to keep breaking 70. That makes sure everybody else – if they’re going to win this tournament – they’re going to have to play well.”

“You know, I realize I’m going to have a difficult day, that’s for sure. You know, this golf course has obviously been very good for Tiger. He’s played well on it in the past and done well, so I don’t think anything is going to be easy tomorrow. Probably at best it’s going to be a long, hard day and a battle. That’s what I’m going to prepare myself for.”

Two shots further behind Woods is the third placed Jerry Kelly while a massive ten players are one shot further back again, that group including the leading Australian Robert Allenby.

The sad story of the day was that of Tim Clark who when he finished with a round of 71 was well enough placed at 5 under and in a share of third. Unfortunately for Clark he had inadvertently forgotten to replace his ball after moving it on the 16th hole so as not to inconvenience Harrington’s line. He raised it with officials after his round and when after checking the tape a two shot penalty was imposed.

Harrington birdied three of his last four holes to create some extra breathing space for tomorrow. Woods had finished his third round over an hour ahead of Harrington, four birdies in his last six holes completing a round of 65 and at 7 under he held the clubhouse lead.

Harrington struggled to the turn in even par but birdies at the 12th and 13th were followed further birdies at the 15th and 17th.

Although Harrington would bogey the 16th after finding the bunker with his third from 110 yards, the bounce back 20 foot putt for birdie at the 17th could well prove crucial over the closing stages.

Woods, too was struggling to make any real progress today, until he reached the 13th where his important finishing run would begin. He made a six footer for birdie there, holed from off the green at the 15th for birdie, all but holed his third to the par five 16th and then to cap it off hit his approach to the last 7 feet behind the hole and made it for his round of 65.

“I’ve always felt comfortable here, there’s no doubt,” said Woods referring to his amazing record at Firestone Country Club.

“Certain golf courses no matter how I’m playing going in, I always feel very comfortable once I get there. If you look at my record on certain golf courses, I’ve played well almost every year.”

“You know, there are certain golf courses that just fit your eye. It’s just hard to describe. You just feel comfortable on tee shots, you feel comfortable with the approaches. You understand how to play the golf course. That doesn’t happen every week, but there are certainly some golf courses I feel that way, and this is one of them.”

While those behind may see it differently, tomorrow could well develop into a classic duel between Harrington and Woods. Tomorrow is clearly important but it might play a key role as a preview to next week’s PGA Championship at Hazeltine where Harrington will defend his title and Woods seeks his 15th major and his 5th PGA Championship.

Allenby slipped from 4th to 7th with his round of 69 but is still well enough positioned for a big finishing round tomorrow to move him into the fray.

Geoff Ogilvy made good progress with his round of 67 to be in 14th position, Nick O’Hern is 27th, Stuart Appleby 34th, Mathew Goggin 46th, Adam Scott 61st along with Danny Lee and Nathan Green 71st.