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Spanish conqueror Jose Maria Olazabal sets Valhalla course record with 63
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (AP) - Jose Maria Olazabal rallied into contention at the U.S. PGA Championship with a 9-under 63 Saturday, breaking the course record, matching the lowest score ever in a major tournament and moving within four shots of the lead. The round could have been even better. His approach to the 18th green landed on a ridge and rolled 35 feet from the hole. He had to two-putt for par, but it still broke the course record by two strokes and left the Spaniard with a smile on his face. "That was one heck of a nice round," Olazabal's playing partner, Blaine McCallister, said as the two walked off the green. Olazabal wanted it to be even better. "I was thinking 10-under par," he said. Olazabal was even par to start the third round at Valhalla Golf Club and 11 strokes behind Tiger Woods. Olazabal is the 18th player to record a 63 in a major, and the first since Australia's Greg Norman in the first round of the 1996 U.S. Masters. Norman also accomplished the feat in the 1986 British Open. The previous player to shoot 63 in the U.S. PGA was Brad Faxon, in the final round at Riviera in 1995. More than tying a record, however, the two-time American Masters champion gave himself a chance to win. He finished at 9-under 207, four back of Woods entering the final round. "As the round went on, I liked my chances a little better," said Olazabal, who missed the cut last week in the Buick Open. "I wish I had played the first day like I did yesterday and I wouldn't be lying six or seven behind." Olazabal said his tee shots were the key to his round. He missed only one fairway -- on the par-5 second -- and repeatedly followed perfect drives with precision iron shots. "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. And I have to say, my iron play was awesome." He scrambled for a birdie on No. 2 and added birdies on Nos. 4, 9 and 10. "I knew around 10, that if I could keep on playing the same way, with the same quality shots, it was going to be a special day," he said. Olazabal made short birdie putts on Nos. 12, 13, 15 and 16 before missing one from 15 feet by centimeters at No. 17. He clutched the bill of his cap and cursed after the putt rolled past the hole. "I hit a lovely putt. I thought it was in all the way," Olazabal said. While Valhalla was yielding low scores, the 63 was still somewhat of a surprise coming from Olazabal. He opened with a 76 and was trying Friday only to make the cut. And last week in the Buick Open, he had an 81, his worst score of the year. "It has been a long time since I really have enjoyed a round this much on a golf course," Olazabal said. "To me, that is the most important thing." Olazabal has won one tournament this year, the Benson and Hedges International on the European tour. He has become increasingly frustrated in Europe, claiming tour officials are promoting Colin Montgomerie and other British players while virtually ignoring a man who has won two majors.
Olazabal is leaning toward playing a full schedule in America next year.
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