DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, 3 February 2008 — Tiger Woods struggled with everything on the course yesterday, missing putts, driving wayward balls into the desert terrain and yelling at a photographer for taking a shot while he was swinging.
Ernie Els had a very different day, shooting a bogey-free round, nailing an eagle on the 10th and putting five birdies to rise from fifth to first place at the Dubai Desert Classic. The South African’s third-round 65 gave him a 1-stroke lead for an overall 11-under 205.
Woods, who led for the first two rounds, dropped four strokes behind Els, shooting a 1-over 73 for 7-under 209 and tied for fifth with five others.
Defending champion Henrik Stenson (68) moved to second with a total 10-under 206. European Tour money leader Lee Westwood (68) and Graeme McDowell (69) are equal third at 208.
Woods, who hit two birdies and two bogeys — including one on the last hole — found himself beyond the rough after several wayward drives landed in sand near the gallery.
“I didn’t play well today,” said Woods, who opened his season with an eight-stroke win at the Buick Invitational last week for a fourth straight title.
The clicking cameras also were a problem for Woods. He yelled at one photographer at the eighth hole for taking a picture of the American’s backswing off the tee. Woods’ ball landed to the left of the course near some palm trees.
Marshals repeatedly had to tell the large number of people following Woods to put their cameras away and stand still. They ejected a few fans for not listening.
Woods afterward said the crowd and photographers were part of the sport.
Three-time Dubai winner Els said he was happy with his third round — especially after his par-72 second round that was troubled by gusty, sand-filled winds. “I hit the ball really nice. I hit a lot of fairways, a lot of greens,” said Els, who won the Dubai tournament in 1994, 2002 and 2005.
But Els said he couldn’t let up heading into the final. “Probably need a really low one (score) tomorrow,” Els said. “I can’t see Henrik with Tiger and the other guys not shooting low, so just got to keep going tomorrow.” Today’s lineup reminded Stenson of last year in Dubai — when Els was leading by two with the Swede in second and Woods in fifth going into the final round. Stenson went on to win, Els took second and Woods third.
“It’s always hard to defend a title, and I think especially this one will be hard. I’m very happy with the job I’m doing so far,” said Stenson, who took second in Qatar and Abu Dhabi last month.
Westwood said even with the top player in the mix anything was possible.
Tied with Woods in fourth were second-round runner-up Damien McGrane of Ireland (72); Sergio Garcia of Spain (70); Abu Dhabi Golf Championship winner Martin Kaymer of Germany (69); Peter Hedblom of Sweden (70) and Shiv Kapur of India (69).
Villegas Joins Five-Man Logjam for PGA Lead After 36 Holes
In Scottsdale, Arizona, Colombia’s Camilo Villegas played his final six holes at par yesterday morning to complete a four-under par 67 second round and join four others sharing the lead at the US PGA FBR Open.
The South American stood on nine-under par 133 after 36 holes along with Americans J.B. Holmes, Doug LaBelle, Jonathan Byrd and Kenny Perry once the darkness-halted second round of the $6 million event was concluded.
Byrd, Perry and Villegas were 45 players unable to finish the round Friday, when first-round play had to be completed in the morning. The cut was made yesterday with 70 advancing at two-under 140 or better.
One stroke behind the leaders were Australian Nick O’Hern and Americans Pat Perez, Frank Lickliter and Charles Warren. O’Hern and Perez finished Friday.
Seven others were two strokes off the pace when the third round began, including Aussies Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby and Steve Elkington. World No. 2 Phil Mickelson was among eight players on 136 after finishing his second round yesterday. The group also included South Korean K.J. Choi and Sweden’s Daniel Chopra. Aussie Aaron Baddeley, the defending champion, missed the cut on 142. Among those also absent for the deciding rounds are Fiji’s Vijay Singh, Japan’s Shigeki Maruyama and South African Trevor Immelman.
Wright Leads Aussie Open but Webb in the Hunt
In Melbourne, Australian Lindsey Wright leads the women’s Australian Open golf going into today’s final round but world No. 3 Karrie Webb is poised one shot off the lead to claim her fourth Open title at Kingston Heath here.
Wright, one of the few Australians playing on the US LPGA Tour, fired her third consecutive round of 72 yesterday to be three under 216. Webb and South Korea’s Shin Ji-yai are joint second on the leaderboard at two under 217. Wright, ranked 62nd in the world, last year beat then world No. 1 Annika Sorenstam in a round at the World Matchplay Championship. And, despite the presence of Webb, is confident her experience will be worth something in the home stretch.
Defending champion Webb overcame a near disaster to card an even-par 73 and said the experience she has gained from more than a decade at the top would serve her well in today’s final 18 holes.
“There’s players up there who haven’t won the Australian Open and I have,” Webb said. “I do have experience at winning golf tournaments.
“I don’t know if that necessarily counts for too much, but I know that I have a great chance to win.” Webb’s brush with disaster came at the fourth hole when she pulled her second shot and landed in a greenside bunker.
She bladed the bunker shot across the green and into unplayable rough, took a penalty, chipped on and two-putted for a seven.
Shin, who began the day two shots off the lead in second place, shot a one-over 74, which included three back-nine bogeys, one of them at the last.
Overnight leader Australian amateur Kristie Smith shot a four-over par 77 to be one-under 218 for the championship and two strokes behind the leader.
