Stormy final day set for Firestone
IN: News | US PGA | Bridgestone Invitational (2007) | Round Three | by Jason Savidge | 05 Aug 2007
A final hole bogey from Tiger Woods has set up a tense final day showdown with Rory Sabbatini at the US$8 million Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.
Woods chose to play conservatively today, knowing that any score below par would keep his chances of a sixth Bridgestone Invitational title alive and it did.
“I’m looking forward to it. I felt like I hit the ball pretty good today given the conditions. I basically grinded my way around the golf course. Again, left a bunch of putts short, just having a hard time getting the ball in the hole.”
“But overall I felt I kept myself right there in the tournament. I felt that anything in the 60s today was going to be a good score. You look at the leaderboard, not a whole lot of guys really took it low today.”
South African Sabbatini overcame a double bogey start this morning to fire a two over par 72 and retain the lead at four under. His playing partner and 2007 US Masters champion, Zach Johnson succumbed to the penal conditions on the South Course at Firestone Country Club and slid back to close the day in a share of 11th place.
Despite his 76 today, Johnson remains quietly confident of his chances tomorrow.
“If I play a solid round, you never know what can happen. This is a major style golf course, and that’s the way I’ve got to approach it.”
Kentucky native Kenny Perry continues a run of good form and is just three shots off the pace in outright third place. Perry is two shots ahead of a group of seven players including Australian Aaron Baddeley, who fired a three under 67, the equal low round of the day alongside England’s Luke Donald.
Stuart Appleby and Aaron Baddeley head the Australasian charge inside the top 5 with Peter Lonard and Richard Green sitting at T14 and T19 respectively. Green’s two under 68 was one of the best rounds of the day.
A wild card may just the diminutive Argentinean Andres Romero, who is in brilliant form of late with a win at last week’s European Tour event in Germany. Romero capped off back-to-back rounds of 71 with a 69 today.
While the odds are well and truly in Woods’ favour tomorrow, there are nine players within five strokes of the lead, all of whom are capable of winning this tournament.
