Phillip Price of Wales, one of the heroes of last year’s Ryder Cup victory over the United States, aims to draw on that experience when he carries a three stroke lead into the final round of the Smurfit European Open at The K Club.
Price shot a third round 67 containing seven birdies to forge clear of a pursuing pack which comprising past champion Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland, former runner-up Angel Cabrera of Argentina, Alastair Forsyth of Scotland, Zimbabwe’s Mark McNulty and Sweden’s Jarmo Sandelin.
The Welshman finished a profitable day on 202, 14 under par, to lead that quintet by three strokes with Scotland’s Andrew Coltart and Gary Evans of England a further two shots adrift on 207.
Twice a winner of the Algarve Open de Portugal, Price has shown he can win from the front and come from behind. He said: “In my first win I was two ahead after three rounds in Portugal and won the title.”
Yet it is for The Ryder Cup at The De Vere Belfry that Price is best remembered by a multitude of golfing fans. In one of the key singles ties, he beat the then World Number Two, Phil Mickelson by 3 and 2 – a stunning victory which propelled Europe towards overall success.
Now, eight months on, Price hopes he can relive the memories of that day. He said: “I am hoping I can draw on the Ryder Cup experience. I am going to feel pretty much as I did that day and I hope I can deal with it exactly the same way that I did then.
“I will get butterflies but once you settle down you’re away. I suppose I learned that you can still play feeling nervous. I was very determined that day against Mickelson and I’m going to be doing the same thing tomorrow.”
Price flirted with trouble at his penultimate hole but escaped with a bogey five, having blocked his drive into rough and squirted his second into reeds perilously close to the banks of the River Liffey. With hindsight, he felt the pitch and putt bogey may yet be the pivotal moment of the week.
Price acknowledged that a three stroke lead is good, but far from invincible in a field of such quality. He outscored his playing partner, Clarke, by three shots but the Irishman is still very much in the hunt.
Clarke, who birdied two of the par fives and carded 16 pars, conceded: “Someone will have to play very well to win. Phillip played really nicely. He shot 67 but it could quite easily have been 63. He hit it that close, so someone will have to play very well to beat him.”
Cabera signed for a superb 66 to climb into the frame with seven birdies in the last 11 holes. He said: “I am very pleased with the way I played. I think the key was my iron play. I enjoy coming here and the course is fantastic.2
Sandelin, aiming to follow Per-Ulrik Johansson and Mathias Grönberg as the third Swedish winner of the title, holed a 30 foot eagle putt at the fourth on his way to shooting a 67 while Forsyth birdied the last for a 69.
Meanwhile the shot of the day belonged to Colin Montgomerie, who bagged his eighth ace on The European Tour with a seven iron from 187 yards at the 12th. It was a rare highlight in a round of 73 for 212, four under par.
