CARLSBAD, 29 February 2004 — Tiger Woods raced into the quarterfinals of the WGC-World Match Play Championship by brushing aside Swede Fredrik Jacobson 5 and 4 in the third round on Friday.
Woods, the world No. 1 and defending champion, now meets Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, who put out last year’s beaten finalist David Toms one up at La Costa Resort & Spa. Britain’s Ian Poulter and Darren Clarke also reached the last eight. Poulter defeated John Huston 2 and 1 to set up a clash with Australia’s Stephen Leaney, who defeated Britain’s Colin Montgomerie one up. Clarke downed Kenny Perry 3 and 2 and next faces Jerry Kelly, who edged Chad Campbell one up. The fourth quarterfinal will be an all-American showdown between Davis Love III and Phil Mickelson. Love swept past Australian Adam Scott 4 and 3 while Mickelson knocked out Chris DiMarco 3 and 2. Woods’s first-round struggle in a one-up win over John Rollins was a distant memory as he powered past South African Trevor Immelman 5 and 4 before dismissing Jacobson by an identical margin.
Slocum Vaults to the Lead in Tucson
In Tucson, Arizona, Heath Slocum fired a bogey-free eight-under-par 64 on Friday to grab a two stroke lead in the $3 million Chrysler Classic of Tucson, where rain prevented completion of the second round.
Slocum was in the clubhouse with a 13-under total of 131 before heavy rain halted play midway through the round. He was two shots in front of fellow American Michael Clark, who shot a 65, and Australian Geoff Ogilvy, who carded a 66 to reach 11-under.
Pargaguay’s Carlos Franco was 11-under through 13 when the horn sounded to suspend play at the Omni Tucson National Golf Resort and Spa.
Sweden’s Per-Ulrik Johansson (69), South African Tim Clark (68), and American Taylor Vaughn (68) were in the clubhouse on 10-under 134. Harrison Frazar was 10-under with eight holes to play.
Australian Steve Elkington and American Ted Purdy both carded 66s to stand at nine-under at the halfway point. Bill Glasson was nine-under with eight to play.
John Day had slipped to four-under through 13 holes and was hovering near the projected cut line. Slocum played his second straight bogey-free round.
Sorenstam Takes Charge in Aussie Masters
In Gold Coast, Australia, Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam seized control of the A$800,000 ($615,000) Australian Ladies Masters with a blazing seven-under par round at the Royal Pines Resort here yesterday. The world No.1 fired a third round 65, giving her a one-shot lead over England’s Karen Stupples (70), who will need to produce something special in today’s final round to deny Sorenstam a third Australian Masters title.
Australian Anne-Marie Knight carded a three-under 69 to be 10 under and three shots clear of Korean Grace Lee (69) and Filipino Jennifer Rosales (72).
After opening rounds of 69 and 70, Sorenstam came out blazing birdies yesterday, picking up six shots in just eight holes to spark talk of a repeat of the astonishing 59 she shot in Phoenix in 2001.
