GUT LARCHENHOF, 12 September 2004 — Ryder Cup player Padraig Harrington shrugged off a shoulder strain to climb from 11th to second in the German Masters after a day’s best third round of 64 here yesterday.
The Dubliner’s fine effort put him three shots behind Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, who carded a 69 to go into today’s final round with a 14 under par total of 202.
France’s Raphael Jacquelin lies third after shooting 70. With only days to go before Europe take on the United States Harrington played down the shoulder problem he picked up after four hours practicing.
Eight shots off the pace overnight Harrington’s charge was inspired by an eagle three at the seventh and a total of six birdies.
McDowell, who just missed out on Ryder Cup selection, has his third European title firmly in his sights. Another contender limbering up for Ryder Cup duty, Paul Casey, was heading for a share of second but squandered that opportunity with a closing double bogey six. Two other members of Bernhard Langer’s European side, Darren Clarke and Thomas Levet, are among a group of five players on four under par.
Record-Breaking Singh Stalks Canadian Leader Weir
In Oakville, Ontario, Hometown hero Mike Weir surged into the lead after an incomplete second round at the 100th Canadian Open on Friday, hotly pursued by new world No. 1 Vijay Singh. Weir’s crowd-pleasing performance, however, was overshadowed by Singh, who roared up the leaderboard with a record-breaking display.
In one of the most dramatic turnarounds ever witnessed in this event, the Fijian arrived at Glen Abbey Golf Club on Friday looking as if he might miss the cut. But he finished the day one shot off the lead after firing a five-under 66 in round two. The lanky Fijian returned on Friday to complete his rain-delayed opening round in record-breaking fashion, hitting five birdies and an eagle on his back nine to vault into contention with a three-under 68.
His 28 was the lowest nine-hole total in the history of the Canadian Open, bettering the previous record of 29 set by Mike McCullough in 1984 and Andy Bean in 1983.
Weir, whose popularity in his homeland is surpassed only by ice hockey’s Wayne Gretzky, returned a six-under 65 to finish nine-under on 133. Again, nearly half the field were unable to complete their second rounds. Swede Jesper Parnevik and Pat Perez were six-under, three off the lead, with five holes still to complete. Craig Barlow was on the same mark in the clubhouse, three ahead of Steve Lowery and David Peoples. First-round leader Joey Sindelar struggled in the twilight conditions, going three-over through 10 to slip off the leaderboard.
Defending champion Bob Tway and US Masters champion Phil Mickelson, playing with new balls and clubs this week, were both in danger of missing the cut.
Sorenstam One Off the Lead in Broken Arrow
In Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam, showing no rust after a month-long LPGA layoff, fired an opening-round five-under par 66 here Friday to share second at the $1 million Hammons Hotel Classic. Sorenstam fired seven birdies but still trailed leader Christina Kim by one stroke, level with 19-year-old South Korean Ahn Shi Hyun in the Swede’s first event since a 13th-place finish at the Women’s British Open in early August.
Kim, who has five top-10 finishes this year, was more than surprised to be at the top of the leaderboard after 18 holes. Kim knows she may be biding her time before Sorenstam moves ahead.
Pilkaradis Stays One Shot Ahead of Els
In Cheonan, South Korea, Australian Terry Pilkadaris kept his nose ahead of South African star Ernie Els after scrambling to a three-over-par 75 on a day of survival in the third round of the Korean Open yesterday. As scores soared due to rain and strong winds, the 30-year-old overnight leader carded a mixed round including five birdies, three bogeys, one double-bogey and a triple-bogey in the $400,000 Asian Tour event at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club.
World No. 3 Els missed a chance to tie Pilkadaris for the lead after failing to convert a 10-foot birdie attempt on the 18th as he also signed for a 75 to lie one behind alongside left-hander American Edward Loar, who overcame poor five-over front nine to shoot a 73.
