subject: Molinari and Westwood Locked in Shanghai Duel (Part one) [print this page] Molinari and Westwood Locked in Shanghai Duel (Part one)
Francesco Molinari holed out for eagle from the 13th fairway,(Odyssey White Hot XG Putter) matched the lowest score of the third round and still had to make a 10-foot birdie putt on the last hole to keep the lead over Lee Westwood in the HSBC Champions on Saturday in Shanghai.
Westwood looked as if he might finally catch up when he chipped from just off the green on the par-5 18th hole to tap-in range for birdie and a five-under 67. Molinari, who had to lay up on the hole, knocked in his putt from the back of the green for a 67.
They have been separated by one shot after every round, and the duel figures to be settled Sunday at Sheshan International.
Molinari was at 14 under 202.
"It was a really eventful round, and it was a bit of a roller coaster, because I hit some great shots and some not-so-great shots," Molinari said. "All in all, I'm obviously very happy."
Luke Donald of England was about the only player keeping this from being a two-man race. He had a 68 and was four shots behind.
Westwood at least was assured of keeping his No. 1 ranking for another week as the other three players with a chance to overtake him faltered on a breezy afternoon.
Tiger Woods hooked his tee shot into the water on the par-5 second hole for the second straight day, (Odyssey White Hot Tour #1 Putter)and his back-to-back bogeys early in the round stalled him. He shot a 73 and was 11 shots out of the lead.
Barring a most improbable comeback, Woods will end his PGA Tour season without a victory for the first time. He will have had 14 years with at least one victory, three years short of the record held by Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. And as he is approaching his 35th birthday, this is not a streak he can start over.
"Not a very good day," Woods said. "I missed a lot of makable putts, didn't hit the ball very well and just never got anything going."
The defending champion, Phil Mickelson, also bogeyed the second hole, from the trees, and shot a 76 to fall back to even-par 216. The P.G.A. champion Martin Kaymer had a 74 and was at one-under 215.
This World Golf Championship event had a European feel. The top six players are European Tour members.(Odyssey White Ice Mini T Putter) Ross Fisher rallied for a 69 and was in the group at eight-under 208 that included Ernie Els (71) and Richie Ramsay (71).
Padraig Harrington was in the group at six under and had the shot of the tournament: he holed a fairway metal for an albatross on the par-5 14th hole, although he dropped two shots after that in his round of 70.
