TITLE-HOLDER SCHWARTZEL GOES TWO CLEAR IN SOUTH AFRICA

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Charl Schwartzel looks on course to retain his Alfred Dunhill Championship title after pulling two shots clear with a third-round 67 today.
A winner at Leopard Creek Country Club by 12 shots last year, Schwartzel cruised to 13 under par to lead England’s Richard Finch by two shots, with Frenchman Victor Riu a shot further back in third.
"I played a lot better today I think than the first two days, I felt more comfortable and hit more aggressive and positive shots," said Schwartzel.
"The one or two holes I didn't feel comfortable I just backed off a little bit and made par and carried on. Just try to keep the board ticking over was basically the plan for today.
"I gave myself a lot of chances but it is hard to make a lot of putts, but if things went your way it could have been really low.
"I've got a two shot lead and basically the same plan for tomorrow, if I can just keep going that way I will apply pressure to everyone and someone will have to play really well to catch me."
Schwartzel has now gone 44 holes without dropping a shot and added: "If I keep playing the way I am there is no reason to make any. If you keep thinking well around the course and executing the shots you should just keep making birdies.
"It's one of those courses where on all the right lines I feel comfortable, it's mostly right in front of you and it helps that I've had good success."
Schwartzel started the day in a share of the lead with Denmark's Morten Ørum Madsen, the man who took advantage of late collapses from Schwartzel and Hennie Otto to win his maiden European Tour title in Johannesburg last week.
But while Madsen got off to a disappointing start with bogeys at the first two holes and eventually struggled to a 79, Schwartzel birdied the par five second and then made a potentially decisive move around the turn.
A superb approach to the eighth left the South African with a tap-in birdie and another followed from six feet on the ninth to be out in 32.
Further birdies on the 12th and 13th took Schwartzel to 13 under par and although he failed to take advantage of the par five 15th or 18th, the World Number 21 will be a strong favourite to win the event for a third time.
Finch lost his European Tour card after a disappointing 2013 and failed to regain it at Qualifying School, but victory would hand him the reprieve of a place on The 2014 Race to Dubai.
However, the two-time European Tour winner is well aware that the leader will be hard to catch on a course where Schwartzel won his first European Tour title in 2005 and has had four runner-up finishes.
“If he goes out and shoots a 65, it’s done and dusted,” said Finch. “He’s one of the best players in the world.”
Riu would have been level with Finch in second place but for a bogey six on the 18th.
“I took a pitching wedge in instead of a 56-degree wedge,” he explained. “I went right over the pin, and I had a very difficult putt from off the green, so I ended up three-putting.”

THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3x72)
Players from S Africa unless stated
203 Charl Schwartzel 68 68 67
205 Richard Finch (England) 68 70 67
206 Victor Rui (France) 68 71 67
207 Romain Wattel (France) 70 69 68
208 Soren Hansen (Denmark) 72 65 71
209 Hennie Otto 69 71 69, Ross Fisher (England) 71 65 72/

SCOTS' SCORES
212 David Drysdale 68 72 72 (T15)
217 Chris Doak 69 73 76 (T55)

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ADAM SCOTT LEADS RORY MCILROY BY FOUR AFTER ROUND 3

FROM THE AUSTRALIAN PGA WEBSITE

Adam Scott has extended his lead out to four shots over Rory McIlroy at the Emirates Australian Open at the end of the third day at Royal Sydney Golf Club.
Continuing his dominance on home soil, Scott (pictured in third-round action) posted a four-under 68 for 16-under-par 200, despite not playing his best golf.
“There were some good shots but I missed a lot of fairways with the driver today, which is a bit uncharacteristic,” said Scott.
“I think for tomorrow to go smoothly I'm going to have to take some of the pressure off - chipping out and punching out from under trees is not how you win golf tournaments on the Sunday.”
“If I can get the driver sorted before tomorrow then I'll feel pretty comfortable going to the first tee.”
A birdie on the last provided Scott with an important buffer heading into the final round as he now has the Australian Triple Crown within his reach.
“Four shots is a slightly better buffer. It doesn't mean that it can't disappear quickly but it means they've got to do something to eat into the lead,” added Scott.
“It's an exciting position to be in. Obviously it’s a great chance to win my national championship tomorrow and then also win the three events down here; which is an unbelievable spot to be in.”
McIlroy, who had a 70 for 204 and is four shots behina trio of Aussies sharing third place on 208, showed moments of brilliance as he overcame a tough start which included a bogey and double bogey on the par-4 4th and 5th holes.
“It wasn't the best of starts. I just tried to stay as patient as possible and played a good back nine,” said McIlroy.
“It probably should have been a couple of shots better. I feel like I left a couple out there on the back nine.”
“I'm four back going into tomorrow. I've obviously got a tough job on my hands to try and catch Adam.”
With an opportunity to birdie the last, McIlroy was disappointed to have made par as he watched Scott roll his in.
“Obviously I expected Adam to make his and I actually hit a good putt, I just misread it slightly,” added McIlroy.
“It would have been nice to birdie that and obviously have the gap from four to three, but I'll still have to play really well tomorrow and just try and close that gap as fast as I can.”
South Australian Max McCardle finds himself tied third on the leaderboard after a 3-under 69 moves him to 8-under the card. His day was highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 7th.
Joining McCardle on the leaderboard are Matthew Jones and Richard Green who posted even par and 1-over rounds respectively.
Making a move in the third round was former champion Stuart Appleby. He posted a 5-under 67 to be 7-under for the tournament and tied sixth with Nathan Holman, Scott Arnold and Leigh McKechnie.
Jason Day demonstrated his world class skill firing a 6-under 66 to be tied 10th with Ashley Hall, Rhein Gibson and Bryden Macpherson.

THIRD ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3x72) Players from Australia unless stated otherwise.
200 Adam Scott 62 70 68
204 Rory McIlroy (N Ireland) 69 65 70
208 Robert Green 69 66 73, Matthew Jones 68 68 72, Max McArdle 68 71 69.

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