England’s Lee Westwood shot a third-round 68 on Saturday to go 14 under par for the South African Open and lead by two strokes after three rounds.
After a day of drama at the par-72 Pearl Valley Golf Estate course in the Western Cape, Westwood is set to become just the seventh foreigner to win the second oldest national open golf championship.
The Ryder Cup star played some of the most consistent golf seen at the tournament this week and made the most of some other challengers’ hiccups as he rose to the top of the leaderboard.
While Westwood secured four birdies, two on each nine, in a blemish-free round, South African favourite Ernie Els had a day he would rather forget.
After shooting back-to-back 67s to lie just two shots off the pace going into the third round, Els slumped to a 77 after recording four bogeys plus triple-bogey sevens at the first and 11th holes.
The Big Easy also managed four birdies during his see-saw round.
”I’ve been solid all week, making just one bogey in three rounds,” said Westwood. ”I missed a lot of chances out there [to make birdies], but I’m pleased with the way I’m playing.”
Another South African to drop out of contention was Charl Schwartzel, who went one shot worse than Els by posting a 78, including six bogeys in a row from the sixth.
With two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen and little known George Coetzee the only South Africans among the leaders, there’s every possibility a European will emerge victorious Sunday.
Goosen moved into contention with a solid 69, while Coetzee shot an even more impressive 68.
”I was disappointed after my front nine,” admitted Goosen, who claimed four birdies coming home. ”But I’m back in contention now.”
Ireland’s Gareth Maybin, with a 69, and overnight leader Michael Lorenzo-Vera from France who had to settle for a level-par 72, share second spot two shots behind Westwood with Irish teenage sensation Rory McIlroy, Goosen and Coetzee a further stroke adrift. — AFP
