McDowell hunts first major

LEE WESTWOOD was making a late run up the US Open leaderboard last night as Graeme McDowell, Dustin Johnson and Tiger Woods prepared to do battle in the final round in California.

England's world No 3, striving for his first under-par round of the week at Pebble Beach Golf Links having come into the second major of the year with great expectations, was three under for his round as he turned for home.

Three birdies in a row at holes four, five and six, brought Westwood to five over par, still 11 strokes behind overnight leader Johnson of the United States but with the tournament frontrunners set to tee off just as the wind off the Pacific Ocean was forecast to pick up considerably.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Johnson was getting ready to resume his battle with halfway leader Graeme McDowell for the second day in a row, having outscored the Northern Irishman by five shots in Saturday's third round to take a three-shot lead at six under par into the final round as both men chased down their first major title.

Woods was last night set to launch his bid for a 15th major from five strokes back having shot a five-under-par 66 on Saturday to reach one under par.

The world No 1, who won the 2000 US Open on its last visit to Pebble Beach by a majors record 15 strokes, set off last night in the company of Frenchman and championship debutant Gregory Havret, who was level par after three rounds.

Also at even par was two-time champion Ernie Els of South Africa, with world No 2 and Masters champion Phil Mickelson one over par and Alex Cejka, Tim Clark and Ryo Ishikawa next in line at three over.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Westwood was not the only one making the most of the more favourable early conditions as first-round co-leader Shaun Micheel double-eagled the par-five sixth hole after holing out with a three iron from 239 yards.

The sixth was playing as the easiest hole on the famous course with sectional qualifier Jim Herman and former US PGA champion David Toms of the United States and Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee all carding eagles on the ocean-lined elevated green.

Jaidee, well out of contention, had also aced the par-three fifth during Saturday's third round while Herman and fellow American Bo Van Pelt had the low rounds of the day to that point after posting three-under 68s.

Following his third-round 71, which began with two straight birdies that stretched his overnight lead to four shots, McDowell said he was not too disturbed with his situation on a day when he did not feel in full control of his swing.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Obviously I'd like to be three ahead but it's going to be a really fun day. I'm looking forward to it.

"I didn't quite hit it as good Saturday as I did Friday, perhaps, but to shoot 71 on this layout, not being in control of my game, I'm pretty happy with that.

"I felt like I did my job. Three back, going into the final day, I think that's a good position, I'm looking forward to it."

Woods was seemingly out of the tournament after dropping to six over par early on in his final round, but seven birdies later, including five in an inward nine of 31, put him into contention for a first win since his enforced lay-off from the game.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"I've got myself back in the tournament and I was what, 25th starting out the day, I believe," Woods said.

"It does feel good to play this well going into a final round and I put myself back in the tournament.

"The last time I really played that well was at Augusta and even then I was struggling there. I haven't been in contention in a tournament since Augusta.

"I'm definitely swinging better now and I have a lot more tournaments under my belt now. Going into the Masters I just had just played for a few weeks and teed it up.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"I've been in a competitive environment now for a while and I've had the feel of being out there playing.

"I have 18 more holes and you've got to be ready to play.

"I'm going to have to put together another good round in order to win this."

Spain's Pablo Martin made an early impression in the final round.

The back marker from Malaga, began yesterday's round at 19 over par, 25 shots behind Johnson, and finished it eight strokes worse off after a 79 at Pebble Beach Golf links sent him back to 27 over.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It was not Martin's score that had fans on the 18th green cheering his name, however, but his speed of play.

As the gallery chanted: "Pablo! Pablo!", the clock had stopped on the 24-year-old's round at two hours and 39 minutes.

Malton's Simon Dyson missed the cut by a shot, despite improving on his opening-round 76 by shooting a 74.

Martin Wiegele became only the second Austrian to win a European Tour event with a two-shot victory at the Saint-Omer Open. The Austrian shot a three-under-par 68 to finish with a seven-under-par total, two shots ahead of the English trio of Matt Haines, Robert Dinwiddie and overnight leader James Elson, Sweden's Pelle Edberg and France's Raphael Jacquelin.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Wiegele birdied his first two holes at Aa Saint Omer, and another gain at the ninth took him to the turn in 33 without dropping a shot.

His back nine featured just one birdie and a bogey at the last, but it was enough for the 31-year-old to claim victory.

South African Lee-Anne Pace shot a final-round 68 to claim her maiden victory on the Ladies European Tour at the Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open yesterday.

Pace started two shots behind Cleckheaton's Georgina Simpson but ended up a shot ahead of Scotland's Vikki Laing with Simpson a further stroke back in third.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The 29-year-old from Mossel Bay won with a total of 12 under par 204 after rounds of 69, 67 and 68.

Pace was delighted by her victory, at the third biggest event on the 2010 Ladies European Tour schedule.

"It's great. I can't stop smiling," she said.

"My lips hurt, my cheeks hurt, but it's awesome.