THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ADVERTISING PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Charlie Wi played bogey-free at Spyglass Hill for a 3-under 69 to build a three-shot lead Saturday in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Now it’s time for him to face his demons
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Charlie Wi played bogey-free at Spyglass Hill for a 3-under 69 to build a three-shot lead Saturday in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Now it’s time for him to face his demons of self-doubt — along with a familiar force in golf.
Tiger Woods took another step toward showing his game is nearly back. He ran off five birdies in a six-hole stretch early in his round at Pebble Beach and had a 5-under 67 that put him four shots behind going into the final round, the closest he has been to the 54-hole lead in a regular PGA Tour event since the 2010 Masters.
With a new swing, it’s starting to look like the old Tiger.
Wi, winless in 162 previous PGA Tour events, was at 15-under 199. He has a 54-hole lead for only the second time on tour. He had a one-shot lead at Colonial last year and was runner-up to David Toms.
This time, Wi will be in the last group with someone in a familiar spot. Ken Duke, who is winless in 142 starts on the PGA Tour, shot a 65 at Monterey Peninsula.
Along with Woods in the hunt, Phil Mickelson managed to stay in contention despite playing the par 5s at Pebble Beach in 1-over par. He saved par on the 18th for a 70. That put him in a tie for fourth, six shots behind, and set up a date with Woods in the second-to-last pairing.
KORDA LEADS IN AUSTRALIA
MELBOURNE, Australia — American teenager Jessica Korda moved into position for a two-sport, father-daughter Australian double, shooting an even-par 73 in windy conditions to take the Women’s Australian Open lead at Royal Melbourne.
Korda, the 18-year-old daughter of 1998 Australian Open tennis champion Petr Korda, had a 4-under 215 total in the LPGA Tour opener on the historic club’s difficult Composite Course, the 2011 Presidents Cup venue that is hosting a women’s professional event for the first time. She opened with rounds of 72 and 70.
WESTWOOD AHEAD IN DUBAI
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Lee Westwood took advantage of some shaky play from Rory McIlroy and Thomas Bjorn, shooting a 5-under 67 to take a one-stroke lead in the Dubai Desert Classic.
Westwood, the third-ranked English star, had a 15-under 201 total.
Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello was second along with Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher and Germany’s Marcel Siem. Cabrera-Bello had a 70, and Gallacher and Siem shot 68.
McIlroy was two strokes back after a 72. Martin Kaymer (70), Scott Jamieson (70) and Joel Sjoholm (66) also weree 13 under. Bjorn was 12 under after a 73.
PAVIN, SENIOR SHARE ALLIANZ LEAD
BOCA RATON, Fla. — Corey Pavin and Peter Senior — both winless on the Champions Tour — shared the lead after the second round of the Allianz Championship at Broken Sound Golf Club.
Pavin followed his opening 8-under 64 with a 70 to match Senior at 10 under. Senior had a 68.
Mark Calcavecchia and Bernhard Langer were a stroke back. Calcavecchia had a 68, and Langer a 69.
Pavin had a two-shot lead with two holes left, but bogeyed the 17th — his lone bogey of the day — and Senior birdied the 18th. Pavin is making his 35th career Champions Tour start, Senior his 48th.
