Scotland’s Alastair Forsyth takes a two shot lead into the final round of the Carlsberg Malaysian Open as he chases he maiden European Tour title at Royal Selangor Golf Club in Kuala Lumpur.
At one stage Forsyth had pulled five clear of the chasing pack but Spain’s Ignacio Garrido closed the gap with two late birdies and when Forsyth three putted the final green for a 54 hole total of 197, 16 under par, the lead was back to just two strokes.
Forsyth started the third round with a one shot lead and extended that with birdies on the two par fives on the front nine. A third birdie of the day followed on the ninth hole, when he hit an eight iron to six feet to move to 17 under par.
But as he turned for home, the 26 year old from Paisley was unable to convert any birdie chances on the back nine and eventually dropped a shot on the last, missing from four feet, for a round of 69, two under par.
“I’m obviously very pleased to be a couple of shots ahead,” said Forsyth. “At one point I was five ahead but it just shows how easily it can be turned around. It only takes a three putt and Garrido makes a couple of birdies and it is all to play for. Two shots is not an awful lot but I am looking forward to it.”
Forsyth has never led a European Tour event going into the final round but has plenty of experience of playing under pressure having won the European Tour Qualifying School Finals in 1999. He then made a superb start to his rookie season by finishing third in the Heineken Classic and leading at the halfway stage of the Brazil Rio de Janeiro 500 Years Open before finishing 46th in the Volvo Order of Merit.
But last season his form deserted him as he slipped down the Volvo Order of Merit to 116th place, just one spot outside the top 115 who retained their European Tour card. Competing in Malaysia on a sponsor’s invitation, Forsyth has so far made the most of his opportunity to edge ahead of the field.
Although leading may be a new experience for Forsyth his caddie, Paddy Byrne, has been there many times before having caddied for Paul Lawrie when he won the 1999 Open Championship and during the 1999 Ryder Cup Matches.
“It will probably be quite healthy tomorrow to have Paddy on the bag,” commented Forsyth. “He knows what he is doing and has been there before. He won’t flap under pressure which is very important to me. I think it will be an advantage to have him tomorrow.
“I know the position I am in but I have never been in this position before so how I handle it I don’t really know. I’m in a good position and if I play well I am going to be hard to beat.
“Your first tournament victory would mean everything. I don’t think it matters what situation you are in, if you get your nose in front there is only one thing you want to do and that is stay there.”
Leading the chasing pack is Garrido, a member of the 1997 Ryder Cup team, after birdies on the 15th and 16th. Garrido, whose father Antonio is caddieing for him this week, fired seven birdies in total alongside three bogeys for a round of 67 to move to 14 under par.
Having remodelled his swing over the winter under the guidance of his father and Domingo Hospital, Garrido is right back in the thick if things as he chases his first win since claiming his maiden European Tour title in the 1997 Volvo German Open.
“I played quite well but made a few mistakes from the rough,” he said. “I had a few flyers and it is so hard to control your shots when you miss the fairway. But I am pleased with my position.”
A shot further back on 13 under par is another Spaniard, Miguel Angel Martin, who struggled with his driving in his round of 71, and Australian Stephen Leaney, who shot a five under par 66.
Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, runner-up in the Carlsberg Malaysian Open twice in the last two years, shot a five under par 66 to lie on ten under par alongside Ian Woosnam, who celebrated his 44th birthday with a round of 66.
