Campbell has a chance in Qatar
Chris Wood carded an eight-under par 64 to surge into the lead at the Qatar Masters after the third round, taking a three-shot lead over New Zealand’s Michael Campbell and two others today.
Two shots behind Ryder Cup stars Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer after the second round, Wood quickly moved up the leaderboard with five birdies on the front nine on his way to a 15-under total of 201.
He made the turn in style, eagling the 10th after his second shot landed within three metres of the pin.
He missed a short putt on the 12th for bogey but bounced back with birdies on the 14th and 16th to match fellow Englishman Simon Khan for the lowest round of the tournament.
The 142nd-ranked Wood is looking for his first European Tour win in his 115th event. He has come close on several occasions, including in 2011 at the Iberdrola Open in Majorca, when he went into the final day with a four-shot lead but scored a 76 to lose by three to Darren Clarke.
Wood won the Thailand Open last year on the Asian Tour, which he said had given him renewed belief in his game.
The 486th-ranked Khan also made a dramatic move today, joining Campbell (68) and Alexander Noren (66) in second place.
He had six birdies on his first seven holes, and a total of eight during his bogey-free round.
Campbell shot a third consecutive 68 to keep himself in contention, the latest sign that the 2005 US Open champion is back in form.
A win in Qatar would allow the former 12th-ranked Kiwi to break into the top 100 again.
Garcia (70) fell into a tie for fifth with Brandon Grace (67) of South Africa, four shots behind. The Spaniard was in the hunt early on thanks to several long birdie putts but then bogeyed the 15th, and picked up a second bogey on the 18th when his approach shot went into the water.