|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |
Tiger in control Woods carries 3-stroke lead into Sunday's final round
Posted: Sunday October 31, 1999 12:12 PM
HOUSTON (AP) -- The flags were raised to their regular height. The gallery was more enthusiastic with cheers. Players whose spirits were lifted by the memorial service for Payne Stewart managed to share a few laughs. On a day when normalcy tried to return in the Tour Championship, the best indication was Tiger Woods on his way to yet another victory. Returning from a moving tribute to Stewart, Woods wasted little time moving into the lead at Champions Golf Club on Saturday by making eight birdies in just about every weather condition imaginable and taking a three-shot lead going into the final round. "I came to an understanding, a resolve," Woods said of Friday's service in Orlando, Fla. "And by doing that, today's round was a little easier emotionally than it was on Thursday. Seeing Tracey [Stewart] speak from the heart ... that's incredible. "If she can have that kind of strength, then we should be able to do that easily." Woods showed no effects from a stinger he suffered hitting a rock, finishing off a round of 66 in a series of rainstorms and adding a 4-under 67 in the cool, blustery afternoon to finish 54 holes at 13-under 200. That puts him in great position to win his third straight tournament and seventh in his last 10 starts -- Woods has won the last 10 times after having at least a share of the third-round lead, including last week at Disney World. "How much better can I get? Only time will tell, and only more hard work will show," Woods said. "Hopefully, I will continue to get better." Chris Perry made four birdies to complete a 64, and had a 69 in the afternoon to finish at 203. Brent Geiberger (68) and Steve Pate (69) were another two strokes back at 205. Davis Love III, tied with Woods at 9 under when the second round was completed, had a 73 in the afternoon and was in the group at 206 that included defending champion Hal Sutton. Because the PGA Tour canceled play Friday so players could attend the memorial service for Stewart, 27 holes were played Thursday and Saturday, setting up a regular 18-hole final on Sunday. Remembrances of Stewart, one of six people killed in a freak plane crash on Monday, were still evident. Several players wore bracelets that said "WWJD" -- What Would Jesus Do -- which were handed out during the memorial service Friday. Stewart wore the bracelet when he won the U.S. Open in June. "Before the memorial service, everything was up in the air," said Phil Mickelson, who finished second to Stewart in the U.S. Open. "Now, we're at a point where we can deal with it. The word you often use is closure. Today was the first day to try to move on, and to deal with it as best as possible." Flags that had been at half-staff all week returned to their regular height, and most players felt more at ease having seen the strength of Stewart's widow, who gave a moving tribute to the U.S. Open champion. "To end it the way she did -- 'Let the party begin in heaven' -- that said it all," Woods said. Woods' play also spoke volumes -- with a stiff neck, no less. Woods pinched a nerve when he tried to hit through a baseball-sized rock late in the day on Thursday. Physical therapists said he would feel stiffness through the weekend, but Woods already was feeling better. He arrived an hour before his tee time and headed toward the trailer - but only to tell the therapists he wouldn't be needing their services. "I'm not hardheaded," Woods said with a smile. "Just stubborn." He's good, too. Woods had three birdies on his first nine holes to get to 133, and it wasn't long before he really poured it on. He holed a chip from 20 feet as the next batch of showers raced across a pond fronting the green, then rolled in a birdie putt from 15 feet on the next hole. "Winning would be a nice thing," he said, "but I don't think I'll feel quite as high." Divots: Woods said he had no regrets about hitting through the rock on Thursday and risking an injury. Asked if he would have done anything differently, he said, "Hit it harder and make sure I got to the fairway." The trip back to Orlando for Stewart's service allowed Woods to pick up a replacement wedge after the rock flattened the grooves. ... Andy Martinez, the caddie for Tom Lehman, wore a tam o'shanter cap on Saturday. ... Duval, who has said the "safe bet" was that he would not go to Spain next week, did not enter the tournament by Friday's deadline. The only way he could enter is by winning. "Just to leave you guys dangling," he said. Duval was eight strokes back.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
