Aaron Baddeley grabbed a two-stroke lead in the third round of the United States Open on Saturday, but must defy Tiger Woods if he wants to record a second straight win for an Australian.
The two will comprise the final pairing on Sunday when the world number one goes for his third US Open win and the 13th major of his career. He will start as hot favourite, but Baddeley (26) has the hard and fast facts on his side.
Woods has a 12-out-of-12 conversion rate when leading a major going into the final day. He is 0 for 28 when behind.
Sunday will not be a two-horse race, however. Four players are on five over, three strokes behind Baddeley and one back off Woods. They are English pair Justin Rose and Paul Casey, Canada’s Stephen Ames and Bubba Watson of the US.
Baddeley said the prospect of going head to head with Woods for the title was an enticing prospect. ”It’s perfect, it’s exciting. He is the best player in the world and he is great to play with. I’ve played with Tiger in the Masters and it is not unusual to play with him in a major.”
The Australian struggled going out on the front nine in the third round, but a battling display saw him come home in 33 for a 70 with a thrilling birdie at the last.
Woods, who carded his first sub-par round of 69, was left pondering what might have been after a scintillating display of ball-striking from tee to green was squandered by his putting.
Had the stick been hot, there is little doubt he would have been out on his own.
”I would have been miffed at myself if I had hit bad ones, but I hit good ones,” he said of his efforts on the greens. ”There were only two or three I really should have made. But I was in control of my game today and I am right there with a shot at it.”
Woods played a conservative, waiting game over the first two rounds (71 and 74) and reaching the halfway stage tied for sixth, five strokes behind leader Angel Cabrera. But it was soon evident that he was in a more attacking mode on Saturday, taking his cue from two birdies on the third and fourth holes.
What followed was as inspiring to watch as it was frustrating to experience for the world number one. He hit an amazing 17 greens out of 17 in regulation and this on an Oakmont layout deemed to be one of the toughest in the world and on the verge of being unfair on the players.
But putt after putt either slid agonisingly past or came to rest a roll or two from the target.
He reached the tough 18th as the only player without a bogey on his card, but found a fairway bunker with his drive and from there he could only blast out well short off the green. He pitched to 15 feet, but once again left his putt tantalisingly short.
”Seventeen holes and I have to end with a dropped shot,” he said. ”I could not quite get it done on the last hole.”
Also still well in the hunt was 2003 champion Jim Furyk, who struggled before posting back-to-back birdies at the last two holes for a 70 to stand four strokes off the pace, level with Steve Stricker and overnight leader Angel Cabrera.
”I’m happy with the finish and hopefully I can hit the ball the same way tomorrow and knock in some putts and put some heat on those guys,” the Pennsylvania-born player said.
Fiji’s Vijay Singh was on the fringes at eight-over after a 70, but Ernie Els — the last US Open winner here in 1994 — blew his hopes with a 74 that left him out of the equation on 13 over. — Sapa-AFP