Poulter retains HK Open lead with late birdies
Source: Agencies |
November 21, 2010, Sunday
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IAN Poulter will take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the Hong Kong Open after shooting a six-under-par 64 yesterday.
The Englishman followed up his second-round 60 by sinking birdies on the final two holes of the third round, pulling clear of US Open champion Graeme McDowell and Briton Simon Dyson.
Poulter's birdie on 18 was holed from 20 feet to a huge cheer from the crowd.
"It was huge to knock in those last two birdies because given the start some of the other players had, it was frustrating for me not to convert some early chances," world No. 14 Poulter told reporters.
"So with Graeme pressing and Simon pressing, I wanted to make sure that I go into tomorrow with a little lead."
The 34-year-old had earlier birdied his second hole and holed a 12-foot putt for eagle at the par-five third hole.
Poulter then stalled, however, with nine straight pars before birdies on 13 and his last two holes.
However, it was McDowell who had arguably the shot of the day, and certainly one of the best round of the day with a 63 on the Fanling course.
The 31-year-old Northern Irishman drove the green at the 10th, which was shortened for the third round to 287 yards, before draining a long eagle putt. That began an impressive back nine that brought consecutive birdies on 13, 14 and 15.
"The Hong Kong golf course has been great to me in the past and it's just good to have another opportunity to win again, tomorrow," he said.
If world No. 9 McDowell wins the US$2.5 million tournament, he would move to within 66,154 euros (US$90,470) of Race to Dubai leader, Martin Kaymer of Germany.
McDowell's fellow Ulsterman Rory McIlroy - runner-up in Hong Kong in 2008 and 2009 - was a shot further back in a tie for fourth with American Anthony Kang, while first-round leader Mark Brown of New Zealand was next on 14-under, level with India's Jeev Milkha Singh.
The Englishman followed up his second-round 60 by sinking birdies on the final two holes of the third round, pulling clear of US Open champion Graeme McDowell and Briton Simon Dyson.
Poulter's birdie on 18 was holed from 20 feet to a huge cheer from the crowd.
"It was huge to knock in those last two birdies because given the start some of the other players had, it was frustrating for me not to convert some early chances," world No. 14 Poulter told reporters.
"So with Graeme pressing and Simon pressing, I wanted to make sure that I go into tomorrow with a little lead."
The 34-year-old had earlier birdied his second hole and holed a 12-foot putt for eagle at the par-five third hole.
Poulter then stalled, however, with nine straight pars before birdies on 13 and his last two holes.
However, it was McDowell who had arguably the shot of the day, and certainly one of the best round of the day with a 63 on the Fanling course.
The 31-year-old Northern Irishman drove the green at the 10th, which was shortened for the third round to 287 yards, before draining a long eagle putt. That began an impressive back nine that brought consecutive birdies on 13, 14 and 15.
"The Hong Kong golf course has been great to me in the past and it's just good to have another opportunity to win again, tomorrow," he said.
If world No. 9 McDowell wins the US$2.5 million tournament, he would move to within 66,154 euros (US$90,470) of Race to Dubai leader, Martin Kaymer of Germany.
McDowell's fellow Ulsterman Rory McIlroy - runner-up in Hong Kong in 2008 and 2009 - was a shot further back in a tie for fourth with American Anthony Kang, while first-round leader Mark Brown of New Zealand was next on 14-under, level with India's Jeev Milkha Singh.
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