Retief Goosen takes a one stroke lead into the final round of the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai looking for a third victory in China buoyed by the fact he has won nine of the 13 European Tour events he has led after 54 holes.
Despite forgetting to bring a sweater to the course, Goosen was unruffled by the cold wind that swept across Sheshan International Golf Club, shooting a three under par 69 to move to 12 under par 204, one strong clear of Korean Yang Yong-eun with India’s Jyoti Randhawa third on ten under par.
Marc Warren, the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year for the 2006 season, continues to enjoy an impressive start to his 2007 campaign, occupying fourth place on nine under par. But Tiger Woods lost ground on the leaders with bogeys on the last two holes to lie five strokes back alongside Paul Casey and Francesco Molinari.
Goosen, the World Number Six and twice US Open Champion, has won the Volkswagon Masters – China title for the last two years, most recently only a month ago.
“Whenever you're leading going into the final round, it's great,” said Goosen. “I've got somebody tomorrow that I have to watch out that I don't know. Yang is obviously playing extremely well and I'm going to have to watch out. Obviously Tiger is still in there. We know what he's capable of. We just have to see what the weather is going to be tomorrow. Hopefully it's not as windy and cold as it was today.
“So a one shot lead, you'd like to have ten, but got to hopefully get a good round in tomorrow and see if we can win it.”
Frustrated by some poor returns this year, Goosen turned to a new coach, Gregor Jamieson, a couple of months ago and is already seeing the benefits.
“We have been working on basic stuff. It was more the setup and something on the backswing that we've been working on. But overall, mentally wise, it's helped me to trust the swing a little bit better out on the course.”
Goosen’s closest challenger is Yang after the Korean fired a best-of-the-day 67 to move to 11 under par. Yang claimed his maiden Asian Tour title earlier this year when he won the Kolon Hana Bank Korea Open, beating a field that included Goosen. He has also won in Japan this year and is unfazed by the wind.
“I think my chances will be better with the wind,” said Yang. “In Japan you get a lot of wind and I am from Jeju island (in Korea) and it is very windy back home. I am comfortable in these conditions. Without the wind, a lot of players can shoot five under or better.”
Randhawa lost the lead for the first time this week after a round of level par 72 to lie two off the pace but was happy to have the pressure off.
“It takes a lot of weight off your shoulders from leading a tournament, especially a tournament like this,” said Randhawa. “So I guess the pressure is on somebody else, so I’ll go out and do my best tomorrow and see what happens.”
Warren fortunes swung one way and then the other before the Scot finally signed for a two under par 70 to lie three back. Having started with a birdie and an eagle, the wheels came off with a five shots dropped in his next six holes before he recovered with four birdies on the back nine.
“For me, only a year into my European Tour career, this is a massive tournament and I am proud. It wasn’t the best of days today but I still managed to play a couple under and I am still right in there. It is still pretty bunched tomorrow and if I can put a score together you never know.”
Casey put himself back in the mix with a four under par 68 but will need something special if he is to make up five strokes on Goosen, as will Molinari, who matched his 68, and Woods.
After the brilliance of his second round, the World Number One struggled from the start of his third. Two birdies, an eagle, three bogeys and a double bogey contributed to a one over par 73.
“I struggled all day, didn't hit the ball well and didn't putt well,” said Woods, looking to win a seventh successive strokeplay event. “I was just trying to hang in there, trying not to be too far behind the leaders. The last two holes, I put myself on my back. I will have to shoot a great round tomorrow and hope that it's enough. Goose is a tough man to catch, he's playing solid but I've got to go out there and take care of my own business. We'll see what happens. But as good as it was yesterday it was as bad as it was today.”
