Westwood holds English hopes at Augusta
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2010 US Masters | Round Three | 11 Apr 2010
England’s Lee Westwood has a narrow one shot lead after 54 holes of the 2010 Masters after an impressive third round of 68 moved him one clear of Phil Mickelson and four ahead of Tiger Woods and K.J. Choi.
Sharing the lead with fellow countryman Ian Poulter as he began today’s play, Westwood began in the perfect fashion with a curling 25 footer at the first and then went further ahead when he hit a superb tee shot to a tight pin at the 4th for his second birdie of the day.
Westwood threatened to establish a huge round three lead when he birdied the 8th and 10th to move a massive four shots ahead of Poulter but Phil Mickelson, playing two groups ahead, produced some of the most memorable shot-making ever at Augusta in a stretch of holes on the back nine.
A brilliant approach to 10 feet at the par five 13th was rewarded with an eagle but if that was impressive then he was about to produce something even more so at the next. From 139 yards, his 9 iron pitched just left of the flag and screwed back into the hole.
Then, at the next, after being forced to lay up at the par five 15th the two time champion all but holed his pitch and in three holes he was five under and at 12 under he had moved from five behind to take a one shot lead as Westwood had bogeyed the 12th while all the drama ahead was unfolding.
Westwood could not birdie the 13th but hit two great shots at the 15th and two putted for birdie to regain a share of the lead although almost as that was happening Mickelson three putted the 17th and fell one behind.
It appeared as if Westwood might bogey the last after finding the fairway bunker and leaving his approach short but he hit a superb pitch to seven feet and made par and he has that narrow but important one shot cushion.
Tiger Woods is back in third position after a considerable struggle on day three. Two early birdies had him within one of the lead but some wayward driving, indifferent golf swings and a general lack of precision cost him three bogeys in the next four holes. He hit two fine shots at the 8th to head back in the right direction but a three putt bogey at the 10th threatened to bring his dream comeback undone.
The quality shot-making returned over the next three holes resulting in three consecutive birdies and he was back at 8 under par and he was back within four of Mickelson.
Yet another poor tee shot at the 17th cost Woods a bogey but in his typical never say die fashion he kept his hopes alive with a superbly played final hole for birdie and at 8 under he is four behind and still a threat.
At was at times a very ordinary display by Woods but importantly he remains in contention and will play again tomorrow with his playing partner in the opening three rounds K.J. Choi.
As Woods displayed in his most recent tournament showing in Australia he has the capacity for two consecutive rounds to be like chalk and cheese. His third round at Kingston Heath was simply awful and yet his final round was something very different. If he can sort out a few clearly evident swing issues tonight then he has a chance of winning his 5th green jacket.
Like Woods, Choi added a third round 70 and has kept the chances of consecutive major championship wins by Koreans alive. Y.E Yang was the first Asian to win a major at the final major of 2009 and he has a chance at least of repeating that effort.
Fred Couples was again superb with a round of 68 to finish alone in 5th position at 7 under while the Ian Poulter, Hunter Mahan and Ricky Barnes will need something very special if they are to overcome their six shot deficit.
The best of the Australians is Geoff Ogilvy whose 69 today kept his chances of a best ever finish at Augusta alive. In order to do that he needs to improve two places from his current share of 16th. His previous best was when 15th twelve months ago.
Adam Scott made a better start today and through seven holes was going nicely at 2 under for the day and the tournament. He moved to three under when he birdied the 12th from 4 feet and two putted the 13th for birdie but he would fall away over the closing few holes for a round of 72 and at even par he is in a share of 22nd.
Robert Allenby and Augusta National continued their love hate relationship, the Victorian making a brilliant start today with three early birdies before a horror run set in. He dropped seven shots in his next six holes and then compounded things at the last with yet another double bogey. A round of 78 has him in 46th position.
Nathan Green did well to make the cut on debut but it turned to custard today when he was round in 80 to be at 11 over and in 48th position.
Lee Westwood has yet to win a major championship but he has shown over the past two years that he is on the verge. He will no doubt be forced to hold off last round charges from Mickelson and Woods tomorrow but he showed today that he has nerves of steel and a bulldog approach to his task.
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