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Closer Look Olazabal finally enjoys a good walk unspoiled
By Yi-Wyn Yen, Sports Illustrated LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Jose Maria Olazabal hasn't had much fun on the golf course in a long time. It's easy to see why. Since his second Masters triumph last year, he has done little to make an impression. There was the '99 U.S. Open when he withdrew after he punched a hotel wall and broke his hand. He won a European Tour event in May, but only after Padraig Harrington, who was five shots ahead, was disqualifying for not signing his scorecard. The rest of Olazabal's year has been a series of mediocre finishes. Last week he missed the cut of the Buick Open with a second-round 81. Then all of a sudden, that little dark rain cloud looming over the grouchy Spaniard disappeared. "I really enjoyed my round today," he said Saturday, when he shot a 63 to break the Valhalla Golf Club record by two strokes and tie the lowest score ever in a major championship. Olazabal was even par at the start of the third round and 11 behind Tiger Woods. At 9 under, he is tied for sixth and just four back heading into Sunday. When Tom Watson, whose 65 tied the existing Valhalla record, heard he was about to be trumped, he shook his head and smiled. "That's pretty awesome," he said. A notoriously wayward driver, Olazabal managed to keep his ball neatly in the fairway and missed only one, the par-5 second (which he nevertheless birdied with a wedge to a foot.) He also birdied the 4th, 5th and 9th. Using his driver and 1-iron, he set up all those birdies from within 15 feet.
"I don't feel like I made a lot of putts from long range," he said. "It was a matter of hitting great iron shots. I hit fairways and gave myself a chance to attack the flags. I have to say, my iron play was awesome." Olazabal shot 31 on the back nine with birdies on the 10th, 12th, 13th, 15th and 16th. It could have been even better, too. Olazabal had a chance to get to 10-under on the 17th, but his 15-foot birdie putt rolled just a few inches past the hole. In a display of fury, he cursed and clenched his cap as if he just missed a par putt instead. "It's been a long time since I really have enjoyed playing this much," he said. "That's the most important thing."
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