CHRIS WOOD GOES THREE SHOTS CLEAR WITH SIZZLING 64

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

A quite brilliant third round of eight under par enabled Chris Wood to stride into a three stroke lead heading into the final round of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

 

The 6ft 5in Englishman’s towering performance included an eagle, seven birdies and just one dropped shot as he compiled a sizzling 64 at the Doha Golf Club to move to 15 under and establish a three shot advantage over former US Open winner Michael Campbell of New Zealand (68), Sweden’s Alex Noren (66) and countryman Simon Khan, who matched Wood’s outstanding third round score.

 

“I played pretty nicely,” said a modest Wood. “I wouldn't say it's one of my best – it was one of my better ones but not my best.

 

“I am very excited about tomorrow now. Going out today I thought as long as I kept myself in the mix then I was going to be really looking forward to the final round. To be leading by three gives me a bit of a cushion.”

 

Wood has yet to win on The European Tour but he tasted victory in the Thailand Open at the end of last year, an achievement that he will certainly draw inspiration from going into the last round.

 

“I took a lot of confidence from the win in Thailand and I hope that can help me tomorrow,” he added.

 

While Campbell, Noren and Khan will be Wood’s closest challengers, Wood will be wary of the serious threat posed by fifth placed Sergio Garcia and Branden Grace.

 

Garcia’s third round 70 leaves him four shots behind the leader, while Grace – The European Tour’s most prolific winner last year after his four victories – carded a five under 67 to haul himself into the mix.

 THIRD ROUND TOTALS

  Par 216 (3x72)  

201 C Wood (Eng) 67 70 64;

204 A Noren (Swe) 71 67 66; S Khan (Eng) 67 73 64; M Campbell (Nzl) 68 68 68;

205 S Garcia (Esp) 69 66 70; B Grace (RSA) 70 68 67;

206 G Coetzee (RSA) 69 67 70; M Fraser (Aus) 68 67 71; J Kruger (RSA) 70 68 68; T Olesen (Den) 68 68 70;

207 G Lockerbie (Eng) 67 69 71; A Wall (Eng) 66 71 70; M Kaymer (Ger) 68 67 72; S Webster (Eng) 69 71 67;

208 L Oosthuizen  (RSA) 71 69 68; H Stenson (Swe) 70 69 69; J Dufner (USA) 71 70 67; G Mulroy (RSA) 69 68 71; V Dubuisson  (Fra) 68 72 68; A Hartø  (Den) 68 69 71; L Gagli  (Ita) 68 71 69; M Ilonen  (Fin) 71 69 68;

209 F Aguilar (Chi) 69 67 73; P Hanson (Swe) 68 73 68; G Fdez-Castaño  (Esp) 69 70 70; T Jaidee (Tha) 70 69 70; R Jacquelin (Fra) 73 67 69; R Green (Aus) 68 73 68; A Hansen (Den) 68 71 70; B Rumford (Aus) 67 73 69;

210 A Kaleka  (Fra) 66 71 73; J Rose (Eng) 68 71 71; D Howell (Eng) 69 73 68; P Casey  (Eng) 70 68 72; D McGrane (Irl) 68 72 70; P Meesawat  (Tha) 71 71 68; T Aiken (RSA) 71 68 71;

211 R Wattel  (Fra) 72 70 69; J Sjöholm (Swe) 69 72 70; P Whiteford (Sco) 66 73 72; T Björn (Den) 72 69 70; M Lundberg (Swe) 72 67 72; T Fleetwood  (Eng) 72 71 68; R Santos  (Por) 65 70 76;

212 S Gallacher (Sco) 72 71 69; S Chowrasia (Ind) 70 73 69; D Horsey (Eng) 68 72 72; T Hamilton (USA) 73 69 70; M Manassero (Ita) 69 72 71; R Bland (Eng) 71 69 72; A Sullivan (Eng) 67 71 74;

213 E Goya (Arg) 71 72 70; R Derksen (Ned) 71 69 73; G Havret  (Fra) 70 69 74; B Wiesberger  (Aut) 70 72 71; M Hoey  (Nir) 70 69 74;

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS