Willett surges three clear in Malaysia
Late birdies put Englishman in pole position to win first European Tour title since Augusta triumph
>> KUALA LUMPUR: Reigning Masters champion Danny Willett moved into a three-shot third round lead after shooting a five-under-par 67 at the Maybank Championship yesterday.
The 29-year-old Englishman, who trailed by one stroke overnight, sank six birdies, including at the final two holes, at Saujana Golf and Country Club to lead from 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion David Lipsky of the United States, who returned a 68.
Frenchman Alexander Levy fired a 67 on another sun-kissed day at the US$3 million tournament co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour for third place, four back of Willett while Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat (66) and KT Kim of Korea (69) were amongst those bunched in equal fourth position, five strokes back.
“I would have taken a 67 at the start of the day. It spreads the top five and top six guys out a bit more and further away,” Willett said.
“I’m probably going to go hit a few and make a few little minor tweaks here and there and try to get the driver to where it’s been most of the week.
“I’m not sure what will win it to be honest, depends on if we pitch up and it’s flat calm. I think there’s a few guys that can go low if it’s windy like this. One or two under par is a good knock out there so I think it all depends on the weather tomorrow.”
Indian star Anirban Lahiri, the 2015 Asian Tour No.1, missed a bunch of putts in his round of 69 to end the third round in a share of ninth position.
Willett, who will go in search of a first European Tour title since his victory at Augusta National, showed his class to lead on 16-under 200 but was somewhat fortuitous on the parfive 18th hole when his approach shot ended behind a spectator’s marquee before going on to make an unlikely birdie.
“I hit an OK drive [on 18] and it leaked a little bit and nipped in by the palm trees on the right. I had 221 yards for a 247 flag and just tried to hit a big cut down out of the right. It was pretty tricky, you needed to miss that first palm tree with the leaves hanging over.
“I hit it well but it’s just gone absolutely bullet straight, and in the air I’m thinking it should probably pitch just short of the grandstand and it flew a lot further then I thought! It could have gone anywhere but luckily it’s just gone around the back and you just go and drop in the drop zone.” LEADING THIRD ROUND SCORES (Par-72) 200 — Danny Willett (ENG) 66-67-67
203 — David Lipsky (USA) 68-67-68
204 — Alexander Levy (FRA) 69-68-67
205 — Gregory Havret (FRA) 69-70-66,
Panuphol Pittayarat (THA) 70-69-66, KT Kim (KOR) 68-68-69, Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA) 70-65-70, Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) 69-63-73 206 — Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR) 70-69-67, Anirban Lahiri (IND) 69-68-69
207 — Shubhankar Sharma (IND) 68-68-71 208 — Li Hao-tong (CHN) 71-69-68, Johannes Veerman (USA) 73-68-67, Thongchai Jaidee
(THA) 71-68-69, Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 66-72-70
209 — Phachara Khongwatmai (THA) 65-7569, Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 72-68-69, Paul Peterson (USA) 71-70-68, Pablo Larrazabal (ESP) 72-67-70, Lee Westwood (ENG) 73-66-70, Shiv Kapur (IND) 70-67-72, Haydn Porteous (RSA) 70-72-67
210 — Renato Paratore (ITA) 69-71-70, Rashid Khan (IND) 72-68-70, Ben Leong (MAS) 70-7169, Marc Warren (SCO) 63-75-72, Sam Brazel (AUS) 66-71-73, Marcel Siem (GER) 66-71-73