'Great' Azinger fires tournament-best 65

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Posted: Sunday June 21, 1998 05:34 PM

Azinger recorded eight birdies and three bogeys en route to the 65 (Andrew Redington/Allsport)

SAN FRANCISCO (CNN/SI) -- Paul Azinger had just completed the best round of this year's U.S. Open early Sunday afternoon, but his thoughts were already with friend and fishing buddy Payne Stewart.

"I'm not surprised about Payne," Azinger said after firing a 5-under-par 65 that left him at 9-over 289 for the tournament. "He loves this and he feeds off this.

"I'm happy for him. Especially since he hasn't been playing well. By that I mean he's been real consistent, but hasn't won anything. I'm pulling for him."

Stewart, the 1991 U.S. Open champion, took a four-shot lead into the final round Sunday at the Olympic Club.

Azinger played in the third group of the day and recorded eight birdies and three bogeys en route to the 65, which bumped Stewart's opening-round 66 as the best round of the tournament honors. He birdied three of the first five holes and three of four midway through the round, despite hitting only eight of 14 fairways and 11 of 18 greens in regulation.

"I was swinging better at it and I putted great," said Azinger, who needed only 25 putts Sunday. "I played great. I didn't hit it as good as Friday, but when you get the putter going, good things happen. I was real steady."

Azinger was one of the first players to get a look at today's pin placements and the course conditions that awaited Stewart and the other front-runners.

"It's going to be a good test for the guys in the pressure cooker," he said.

Stewart cited a few difficult pin positions, the back-left placement at No. 3 in particular, but felt the varying firmness of the greens could pose the biggest problems down the stretch.

"The back nine has some surprises for them," Azinger said. "The greens are holding early in the round, but by the time you get to the back nine, the greens are harder and firmer."

The afternoon sun and ocean breeze will continue to dry out the greens as Stewart shoots for a wire-to-wire victory. Azinger realizes his pal has his work cut out for him.

"He sounds confident," Azinger said. "But the guys behind him are confident. There are some real stoic guys there. He has a tough task."

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