South African Rory Sabbatini fired a four-under 67 on Saturday to seize a four-shot lead after three rounds of the $5,1-million Nissan Open.
With another consistent round, Sabbatini moved to 14-under 199 through 54 holes. He had a comfortable lead over Craig Barlow and Fred Couples.
Couples, who won this event in 1990 and 1992, shot 31 on the back nine to finish with a 65. Barlow carded a 67 to get to 10-under, aided by an eagle on the 17th hole.
Two more South Africans, Tim Clark and Trevor Immelman, were tied for fourth, five strokes back and John Rollins, who shot a 64, was six adrift in sixth place.
Despite three rounds in the 60s, Sabbatini said there was room for improvement, and he planned to go with an old set of irons in the final round.
”Right now I’m just kind of struggling with mine and I’m going to go back to my old ones,” Sabbatini said. ”If I get out on the range in the morning and they feel OK, they’ll be in the bag.”
It’s hard to argue with Sabbatini’s methods. He could be the hottest golfer on the tour right now.
Sabbatini has played in five events prior to the Nissan and has finished no worse than a tie for 20th. He tied for second at the Sony Open, tied for 10th at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and finished second last week at Pebble Beach.
On Saturday, he held off the field for the second consecutive day, keeping the four-shot margin he had at the end of the second round.
While most golfers tend to prefer a target, Sabbatini said he is happy to be the hunted rather than the hunter.
”I’m comfortable with the lead,” Sabbatini said. ”It doesn’t change anything for me. I know I got to go out there and do what I’ve been doing.”
Barlow and Couples will be in the final threesome with Sabbatini and both said the early holes would be key.
”A four-shot lead is never too much,” Barlow said. ”It’s a crazy game. The bounces can start going wrong and the momentum changes. Who knows what’s going to happen?”
One person that Sabbatini won’t have to worry about is Tiger Woods.
Woods, who never has finished worse than a tie for 20th, was forced to withdraw when the flu he has been battling all week got worse.
”Everyone saw how Tiger felt this week struggling with the flu and he just can’t shake it,” said Mark Steinberg, Woods’s agent and MD of golf for IMG. ”He feels awful. This is an event he loves to play in and strives to win. Tiger doesn’t want to pull out of any event ever, much less the Nissan Open in his hometown.”
With the Accenture Match Play Championship next week and Woods 11 shots out of the lead at the start of the third round, he decided to stay away from Riviera and try to rest.
Couples, who also has been battling the flu, decided to stick it out and was glad he did. He began the round six shots behind Sabbatini and made up two shots, and will be playing in the last group.
”I couldn’t do much about stopping him,” Couples said of Sabbatini. ”I birdied 17 and parred 18, and I’m in better shape than when I started.”
Sabbatini had a three-shot lead after missing an opportunity to birdie the 590-yard par-five 17th. He did, however, make a birdie on the final hole.
”That’s one of the nice things about having a couple shots lead,” Sabbatini said. ”Even though the guys are gaining on you, you still have the benefit of being a few shots ahead. There is no rush here, just let it happen. Things will come around.” — Sapa-AFP