A flawless round of 66 by Lee Westwood, and late mistakes by his young Race to Dubai rival Rory McIlroy, gave the Englishman a considerable advantage with one round to go in the Dubai World Championship.
Westwood, the 2000 European No. 1, goes into today’s final round with a five-stroke lead over McIlroy, the player who heads him on the order of merit, the Race to Dubai.
Although Westwood was caught by McIlroy twice, the second time on the 15th, the 36-year-old Englishman’s six-under return in another absorbing day’s tussle took him to 15-under 201.
PHOTO: EPA
He leads by two strokes from his fellow Englishman and third-round playing partner Ross McGowan, who also carded a 66.
McIlroy bogeyed the last three holes of the Earth course at Jumeirah Estates to slump to a 69 and share third place with triple major champion Padraig Harrington (69) and Sweden’s Alex Noren (67).
The unheralded McGowan, who completed a maiden European Tour victory at last month’s Madrid Masters, took charge of the first nine holes with five birdies, inspiring Westwood to his best.
Northern Irishman McIlroy, who started the tournament 128,173 euros (US$190,414) ahead of Westwood on the money list, pushed his more experienced Race to Dubai opponent all the way until the closing three holes.
On the 16th he overshot the green and chipped long from the water’s edge. He three-putted the short 17th and hit his third shot into the hazard on the last.
■CAMBODIA OPEN
AFP, SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA
Craig Smith of Wales remained on track for his maiden Asian Tour win after maintaining his lead at the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open yesterday.
The towering Welshman fired a third round score of one-under 71 for a three-day total of 10-under 206 to lead by one stroke going into the final round at the Phokeethra Country Club.
Thai youngster Annop Tangkamolprasert heads the chasing pack on 207 after a 70, while compatriot Sattaya Supupramai climbed up the leaderboard with a 68 to take third place. Malaysia’s Shaaban Hussin and Pariya Junhasavasdikul of Thailand took a share of fourth on 210, while India’s Shiv Kapur and South Africa’s Jbe Kruger are among four golfers tied in sixth on 211.
■DUNLOP PHOENIX
AFP, MIYAZAKI, JAPAN
Edoardo Molinari of Italy hit a two-under 69 to snatch the lead after the third round of the Dunlop Phoenix tournament yesterday.
Starting the day one stroke off the pace, Molinari sank three birdies on the front nine to take the lead, before adding one birdie and two bogeys on the back nine for a three-round total of eight-under 205.
Robert Karlsson shared second place with overnight leader Kenichi Kuboya of Japan on 206.
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