Leishman comes into view for final round
MAKING HIS MARK: Australia’s Marc Leishman set the pace during the third round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City yesterday
at Sun City AUSTRALIA’S Marc Leishman yesterday hit a scintillating approach to the intimidating 18th green before rolling in for birdie to set up an intriguing final round to the Nedbank Golf Challenge today.
Leishman had been flying under the radar over the first two rounds but yesterday blipped into full view in compiling a splendid round of 66 to hold a one-shot lead over Henrik Stenson, who is 13-under.
Leishman, who suffered considerable family trauma earlier this year when his wife was taken ill and given just a 5% chance of recovery, has learnt the power of perspective.
His wife made a full recovery and Leishman now doesn’t swing the club as if his life depends on it.
He is unlikely
to
suffer insomnia as the third round leader. “I’ll relax. There is not too much to stress about. It’s golf. I generally sleep pretty well.”
His birdie on the 18th seemed to spice things up with Stenson one hole back. “I had to try and do something to make it interesting for tomorrow… to give him a run for his money.”
Stenson by contrast lost his composure, then his rag on the 18th when he found the right hand fairway bunker off the tee. Realising he could not attack the pin from his perilous position he picked up his bag and let gravity do the rest. “It was some shocking raking. I thought I could go for the green but then realised I couldn’t,” Stenson explained.
He played out sideways and as a result dropped a shot, handing Leishman the overnight lead.
Stenson, to be fair, has done remarkably well to be in this position. On Tuesday he was given just a 5% chance of playing due to flu.
Although he started the round as joint leader with Jaco van Zyl, he again wasn’t at his commanding best on the front nine.
He was lucky to birdie the ninth when his approach wedged between the grass and the wall guarding the island green. At around the same time, ominously, Leishman one hole ahead, got an eagle.
On Friday, Van Zyl’s game showed signs of losing its spark but on and around the green he imparted on his recovery shots such finesse and touch that it allowed him to stay in touch.
“It was one of those days. A foot left, a foot right. I was fighting the swing a bit but I don’t feel that I’m out of it,” said Van Zyl.
If Van Zyl’s back nine was wholly unspectacular, then American Robert Streb provided all manner of scenic splendour. Streb’s ball and fairway parted ways midway through his round. He had to conjure all kind of inventive ways of restoring his ball to the straight and narrow.
Still, he did not drop his bundle as he marvellously extricated himself from at times sticky, but mostly thorny situations.
The men who were supposed to front the South African challenge showed signs of life yesterday.
Branden Grace drained six birdies en route to a 67 to be seven under, one ahead of Louis Oosthuizen.
Charl Schwartzel is four under, well off the pace.