Faultless putting puts Chopra in lead
BY Anthony Powter | Australasian PGA Tour | 2007 MasterCard Masters | Round Three | 24 Nov 2007
Sweden’s Daniel Chopra blitzed around the Huntingdale layout with a third-round 65, to lead the Australian Masters by a stroke at twelve-under from Australia’s Aaron Baddeley and Kurt Barnes, who also fired a low round 65.
Chopra’s third round included eight birdies and a single bogey, but it was his flat stick that proved the vital element with only 23 putts recorded.
“It was one of those days,” remarked Chopra.
“Everything was going my way. I kept making putts and every time I had an opportunity to make a birdie, I made it.”
In contrast, Aaron Baddeley’s round was one of missed opportunities and frustration.
There was no better reflection of this than on the 18th green, where his birdie putt to join Chopra in the lead, finished only inches short and a despondent Baddeley fell to his knees with his body language reflecting his mood about his round.
“It was a good day without being great,” said Baddeley.
“It was a little scrappy at the start and at the end, but really nice in the middle. I plan to get off to a better start tomorrow, make a few birdies and put the pressure on Dan.”
Rod Pampling is the next placed player, three shots off the pace in outright fourth position at nine-under-par after a 67, with England’s Richard Finch and Stuart Appleby in T5 at eight-under.
Chopra said after his round today that he is not perturbed by playing in front of the parochial Melbourne fans on the final day at Huntingdale, who traditionally support their local favourites, none more so than Baddeley, who played Pennant Golf with Huntingdale.
“I’ve been coming to Victoria since I was 14-years-old,” remarked the Swede, who’s married to an Australian and owns a house in Melbourne.
“The first ocean I saw was here. Melbourne is very special and I have fond memories. I feel very much at home here.”
Chopra is coming off a sterling season on the PGA Tour, having won the Ginn sur Mer Classic at Tesoro, to eventually finish 48th on the money list with over US$1.7 million.
Add that to a total of eleven international victories spanning the globe, including the US, Asia and Europe, and Chopra is certain to come out fighting for the gold jacket tomorrow afternoon.
As a young amateur Chopra was based in Perth, where he developed his game to become an established international player. Should he be able to go onto win tomorrow, it will be his first Australian professional victory, one he’s sure to savour and you suspect, one that’s bound to be emotional.
