Former champion Pablo Larrazabal on Saturday made five birdies en route to five-under 67 that gave him the overnight lead going into the final day of the BMW International Open in Pulheim, Germany.
“I’m going shot by shot, hole by hole and trying to make as many birdies as I can,” Larrazabal said.
The Spaniard, who won the event in a playoff with compatriot Sergio Garcia in 2011, finished the day strongly to hold a three-shot lead at 17-under par, with eight players tied for second on 14-under.
Larrazabal has yet to drop a shot in the tournament, but was nevertheless unhappy with his performance and said the wet course had been a factor.
“My game wasn’t good today. I didn’t hit the driver well. I put myself in a little bit of trouble, but I knew how to handle it and to keep it going and make some birdies coming in. I can play better golf, but, playing like I played, I cannot score better,” Larrazabal said.
Emiliano Grillo would be closer to Larrazabal but for a double-bogey on the final hole. The Argentine is tied with former winners Thomas Bjorn of Denmark (2000, 2002) and Swedish duo Henrik Stenson (2006) and Robert Karlsson (1997).
Joining them in second are Italian Francesco Molinari, Spaniards Carlos del Moral and Rafa Cabrera-Bello, and Richard Green, who catapulted himself into contention with the round of the tournament. The Australian made eight birdies and an eagle for a 10-under 62.
Green also alluded to the weather’s impact, saying: “The course was firm on Thursday afternoon, bouncy and now all of a sudden it’s target practice now. So you can pretty much fly it at any pin and stop it right there.”
Former winner Danny Willett, who started in a four-way lead with Larrazabal, Grillo and playing partner Cabrera-Bello, struggled with a shoulder injury.
The Englishman made two bogeys, but recovered with two of his three birdies at the final four holes for a one-under 71 to finish in a group at 13-under.
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