IT’S BEEN ANOTHER case of what might have been for Padraig Harrington in California.
The Irishman was well in contention at Peddle Beach on Friday after consecutive rounds of 68 and 66 but four dropped shots – over five holes – at the end of day three has seen him fall back for a share of ninth (-8).
Korean Charlie Wi remains the man to beat, having moved to 15-under, but he will be worried by the ominous shadow of Tiger Woods, who is just four strokes behind in third. Another American Ken Duke splits Wi and Woods on the leaderboard.
Wi himself played bogey-free at Spyglass Hill for a three-under tally of 69 to build a three-shot lead Saturday in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. However, he has never won in 162 attempts on the PGA Tour.
Woods, meanwhile, took another step towards showing his game is nearly back. He ran off five birdies in a six-hole stretch early in his round and had a five-under 67 that put him just off the pace going into the final round.
With a new swing, it’s starting to look like the old Tiger. “But the scenario doesn’t change,” he said afterwards. “The ultimate goal is to win a golf tournament.”
“I enjoy being in the lead,” Wi commented. “It’s a lot more fun than trying to come from behind. I know (it’s) going to be very exciting, and I’m sure I won’t sleep as well as if I’m in 50th place. But that’s what we play for, and I’m really excited.”
Phil Mickelson managed to stay in contention despite playing the par-fives at Pebble Beach in one-over par. He saved par on the 18th for a 70. That put him in a tie for fourth, six shots behind, and set up a date with Woods in the second-to-last pairing.
Harrington, for his part, was chasing the lead until a sloppy finish on the tougher Spyglass Hill course. He collected birdies on the first, second and sixth and 12th to maintain momentum initially before bogeys on the 14th and par-five 16th as well as a double bogey on the 17th. He had to settle for a 72 and dropped seven shots behind in a tie for ninth.
-Additional reporting from AP