Golf-Sloppy Poulter blows big lead in Singapore (Reuters)
October 31, 2009
* Poulter squanders five-shot lead
* Third round to conclude early on Sunday
* Levet delighted to be in share of lead
(adds quotes)
By John O’Brien
SINGAPORE, Oct 31 (Reuters) – Ian Poulter dropped four shotsin six holes to slip back into a three-way tie for the lead atthe rain-hit Singapore Open on Saturday as a third weather delayin as many days ended play early midway through the third round.
As dark clouds loomed ominously over the Serapong Course,officials called the players in for their own safety justminutes after Briton Poulter had bogeyed the sixth to joinFrenchman Thomas Levet and Japan’s Kodai Ichihara on eight-underpar.
Australia’s Andrew Dodt and China’s Liang Wenchong are ashot behind the co-leaders, one ahead of Taiwan’s Lin Wen-tang,Briton Richard Finch and Sweden’s Niclas Fasth on a tightleaderboard where four strokes separate the top 19 players.
Resuming his second round in the morning, Poulter surgedfive shots clear of the field with a flawless seven-under 64 andappeared so relaxed after a six-week layoff that a firstEuropean Tour win in three years began to look a formality.
However, the 33-year-old suffered a Halloween horror showafter he returned to the course in the mid-afternoon and when hehooked the opening tee shot to his third round into the rough,his demeanour changed as error after error crept into his game.
He three-putted to drop a shot on the par-four first holebut much worse was to follow on the tricky par-five fourth,where he opted to attack the green with his second shot from apoor lie and succeeded only in dunking his approach in thewater.
DIFFICULT PINS
Finally on the green in four, he underhit his long par puttand took two more shots to complete the hole with an uglydouble-bogey, cutting his lead to just one shot.
The difficult pin positions were proving a challenge to amajority of the field but Poulter’s problems were on the tee andanother errant drive and poor chip led to his fourth droppedshot and the Englishman was suddenly absorbed by the chasingpack.
Levet and Ichihara, meanwhile, were going about their workquietly, each registering two birdies on their front nines andplaying par golf the rest of the way before the weather warninghalted play for the day.
Frenchman Levet was a little surprised to be in a share ofthe lead but was glad his hard work off the course was payingoff in Singapore.
“I have been playing well on practice day the last twomonths but really ugly in the tournaments,” he told reporters.
“I just kept telling myself to wait for it to come and itlooks like it’s finally happening. The driving is still quitepoor but the rest, from the fairways to the greens, is prettygood.
“I am looking forward to tomorrow because I love a battle.”
The diminutive Ichihara insisted he would continue to attackthe course as his confidence was high.
“I will play for the win as I am in a good position,” hesaid. “It’s a tough course for me and rather long and need a lotof mid-irons and hybrids just to reach the greens.
“But this is making me play safe, which is a good thing forthis course.”
None of the 70 players remaining in the $5 millionco-sanctioned event after the cut was made at one-over have yetcompleted their third rounds and they face a long day on thecourse on Sunday to try and finish the tournament on schedule.
There will be no draw once the third round is complete andthe groups that went out on Saturday will remain intact for thefinal 18 holes
(Editing by Nick Mulvenney; To query or comment on thisstory email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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