Golf-Young Briton Wood on course for maiden win at Wentworth (Reuters)
May 22, 2010
By Tony Jimenez
VIRGINIA WATER, England, May 22 (Reuters) – Chris Wood, whoburst on to the scene with top-five finishes at the 2008 and2009 British Opens, was in pole position to land his maidenvictory after the PGA Championship third round on Saturday.
The tall, mop-haired Briton rolled in a 25-foot birdie puttat the 16th before playing a delicate greenside bunker shot towithin inches of the cup at the last to save his par and recorda 67 for 205, eight under par.
That left Wood, 22, two ahead of countryman Danny Willett(70) and Swede Robert Karlsson, who after flying home to Monacoon Friday believing he had missed the cut, fired a course record62 having rushed back in time for his 0855 teeoff at Wentworth.
The 2008 European number one had only three hours sleep butquickly proved he was wide awake, racking up nine birdies in aflawless effort to establish the lowest round at the EuropeanTour’s flagship event, dating back to 1955.
“It was quite funny at breakfast because (Dane) Soren Hansensaid, ‘This trip has a 63 or something written all over it’,”Karlsson told reporters.
Karlsson was livid with himself 24 hours earlier after adouble-bogey seven at the 18th left him on three-over 145.
“It feels like I definitely got another chance today,” saidthe 40-year-old. “I was sure I was out but in a situation whereI just made the cut, I could just go out and play and enjoy it.
“If it doesn’t work, nobody cares,” said Karlsson aftereclipsing the 63s by Nick Job in 1973, Wayne Riley in 1991,Angel Cabrera in 2001, Jarrod Moseley in 2002 and RobertDinwiddie in 2008.
Briton Luke Donald, the overnight leader, could only managea 72 as he finished in fourth place on 208, two ahead of acluster of players including holder Paul Casey and triple majorwinner Padraig Harrington.
South African Ernie Els, who redesigned the new-look WestCourse, wrecked his title hopes by slumping to a 76 for 215.
(Editing by Pritha Sarkar; To query or comment on this storyemail sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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