Allenby and Sim take the lead at Masters

BY Bruce Young | Australasian PGA Tour | 2008 Australian Masters | Round Three | 29 Nov 2008

It was a day when many challengers came and went but in the end it was the pre tournament favourite and the man many anticipated as the likely winner of the Sportsbet Masters, Robert Allenby, who emerged as the joint third round leader at Huntingdale along with West Australian Michael Sim.

That in no way demeans the performance of the 24 year old West Australian Sim, but the shot Allenby hit at the par five 7th is likely to become folklore in the history of the Masters, especially if Allenby was to go on and win tomorrow.

When asked to compare it with the shot he hit at the first playoff hole of the 2001 Nissan Open at Riviera Country Club which he won, Allenby responded. “If I am to go on and win tomorrow I will put it in the same category but the one back then won me the tournament. This has yet to do so.” Allenby hit a three wood back then to 3 feet in cold drizzly weather to set up a win in the six man playoff.

Allenby’s round was highlighted by a shot that is likely to become folklore in the history of the final staging of the Masters at Huntingdale. His second shot to the par five 7th hole with a three wood found the bottom of the cup for an albatross two and kick started a round that until that point had been only treading water. I hit a lot of good putts in the first few holes and made a good par save at the 4th but made an easy birdie at the 6th and then the shot at the 7th got things going.”

He moved from one behind to two ahead at 9 under. He would drop a shot at the par five 10th when he found trouble in the greenside bunker but a good up and down for birdie at the 14th and another after a fine tee shot at the par three 15th kept him in the lead with Sim.

He hit another fine shot from the left hand rough at the last to set up one last birdie chance but missed the 15 foot downhill birdie opportunity.

“I was really happy with the way I played today, said Allenby after his round. “There were holes out there to be careful of and holes to take advantage of and I was able to do that. It was a tricky wind there and even though I was often between clubs I only made two or three errors.”

“My goal today was to put myself in position for tomorrow and I have been able to do that.”

Much of the press conference talk was on that shot at the 7th from 223 yards. “It felt as pure as it looked. I wasn’t able to see it go in the hole but I could see it bounce then work towards the hole.”

Sim recovered from a shaky start after a poor second at the 1st and what he described as a bad putt at the 3rd to birdie the 6th, 7th and 8th and turn in 35. He then holed a lengthy eagle putt at the 14th after a superb fairway wood to 25 feet.

“I put a poor swing on it at the first and then hit a bad putt at the second but I had a good practice session with my coach David Milne before the round and was feeling good about my game.”

“It was awesome to be playing with Robert who is one of the world’s leading players and a player who I admired as a kid.”

If Sim was to win tomorrow it might mean a decision between playing the European Tour or following his dream to play the USPGA Tour again. “I think what I would probably do in that situation if it were to happen would be to play the Nationwide Tour next year as I would still have a couple of years exemption on the European Tour. Ideally I want to get back to the PGA Tour but it would be a nice decision to have to make.”

Sim played the USPGA Tour in 2006 but lost his status, much of that due to back issues and the lack of continuity he was able to build as a result. His swing and his game appear to be back to their best and irrespective of the outcome tomorrow he appears in for a lucrative run in the weeks ahead.

Local golfer Ashley Hall is at 8 under and two behind. An Asian Tour player at present he has previously won a Von Nida Tour event when winning the Victorian PGA Championship in 2007 and his performance to date this week suggests that he is beginning to benefit from the two years in Asia. Hall played much of his amateur golf at Huntingdale and may need that experience over the closing stages tomorrow.

Three players are lurking at 7 under including Rod Pampling, Steve Webster and Anthony Summers who made a good par at the last to stay in touch.

At 6 under are Nathan Green, David Horsey and recent New South Wales Open champion Aaron Townsend who followed up his round of 64 yesterday with 71 to keep his chances alive. All three still have a chance of victory with a big finish to the event.

Amongst the large group at 5 under is the brilliant amateur Danny Lee who once again recovered from a slow start to finish with 71 and a share of 10th position.