TIGER BACK ON THE PROWL
Three successive birdies from the ninth to the 11th sent Tiger Woods to five under and a birdie on the par five 14th into a share of the lead
Carnoustie ( United Kingdom), July 21: Tiger Woods rediscovered his golden touch on Saturday with six birdies in his third round moving him into a share of the lead at the British Open.
After two underwhelming even- par rounds, Woods needed something special in the third round at Carnoustie and he was on course for just that after reaching the 16th hole at six under for a tournament he has won three times.
Three successive birdies from the ninth to the 11th sent the 42- year- old to five under and a birdie on the par five 14th into a share of the lead with fellow Americans, defending champion Jordan Spieth, overnight leaders Kevin Kisner and Zach Johnson and Englishman Tommy Fleetwood.
Spieth had got his round going with an eagle at the par- four first hole which signalled his intent, and a birdie on the fourth to six under.
The later starters were hoping the afternoon conditions would remain as calm as the morning, when Justin Rose fired a superb sevenunderpar round of 64 to move to four- under overall.
Rose’s effort equalled the lowest round in an Open on the Scottish links, although it was not quite good enough to trouble Fleetwood’s overall course record of 63, set last year.
SHARMA SHOOTS EVEN
PAR ROUND India’s Shubhankar Sharma marked his 22nd birthday with his first- ever appearance on a weekend at a Major, shooting a second successive even par 71.
However, that 71 could actually see him move backwards or at best stay where he was last night at T52.
After 74- 71- 71 he is now 2- over 215 and T- 56th with a lot of players still on the course at the Carnoustie Golf Links.
Earlier late on Friday, Anirban Lahiri missed the cut after a second round 74 following on his first round 76 to finish at 8- over as the cut fell at 3- over. Sharma was 2- over after two rounds and he remained there after three, too.
Talking of his birthday and the third round, Sharma said, “This is the best birthday present for myself, playing in The Open and the weather was perfect today. This is the best way I could have spent my birthday. I received a lot of well wishes. I woke up and saw a lot of messages on my phone but I couldn’t see all of them yet.”
He also added, “( But) I would like to have played better than I did but I am very happy that I am playing the round ( weekend) today. I did my best yesterday to try and make it to the weekend. Today I just didn’t make enough putts.
“Even though I made the birdie on the second, which was a good start, I couldn’t really capitalise on it.”