Over-watering proves a problem for Rose as his Turkish lead is pruned
Justin Rose last night pledged to put his foot down in pursuit of a second straight Turkish Airlines Open title – and a return to the top of the world rankings – after suffering a costly concentration lapse in Antalya.
Rose began yesterday’s third round at the Regnum Carya Golf Resort with a two-shot lead, but ended it three behind China’s Li Haotong after hitting three balls into the water in the space of nine holes on his way to an uncharacteristically untidy 69.
Li’s flawless 63, which included an eagle and six birdies in the first 12 holes, gave the 23-year-old a 17-under-par total of 196 for a three-shot lead over Rose and France’s Alexander Levy, with 2016 winner Thorbjorn Olesen a stroke further back.
“I struggled with my focus and concentration and made a couple of questionable decisions,” admitted Rose, who will replace Brooks Koepka as world No. 1 if he can make the successful title defence of his career.
“It was maybe a little bit of tiredness at the end of a long season so I have to make sure I come out on Sunday more focused.
“Three balls in the water and still shot 69 so there’s some good stuff still happening. It was a bit of a disappointing finish but there is so much golf to be played and I am not really too fussed about the position I’m in.
“Being three shots back you have to put your foot down and go for it. It does not mean reckless aggression, but you have to pick your moments to be aggressive.
“In some ways there’s nothing to lose and everything to gain. I’m going to have to shoot in the mid 60s and it’s maybe easier than if I was one ahead.”
Li chipped in for his fifth birdie of the day on the ninth to cover the front nine in 29 and took the outright lead in even more spectacular style by holing out from 173 yards for an eagle on the next. A birdie on the 12th took him three shots clear and although Rose closed to within a shot after birdies on the 11th and 12th, dropped shots on the 13th and 18th left the Olympic champion facing an uphill battle.
Li has finished no worse than 11th in his last three starts and birdied four of the last six holes to edge out playing partner Rory Mcilroy in the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic in January.
“Those three weeks gave me a lot of experience and confidence, especially against the best golfers in the world,” Li said.
“I definitely got a lot of confidence from Dubai and since then playing a lot of big events. It’s going to be an exciting day tomorrow and I’m looking forward to go against Rosey, especially in a Rolex Series Event. I really want to win this week and play my best tomorrow.”
England’s Danny Willett and Sam Horsfield are five shots off the pace on 12-under, with Ryder Cup star Tommy Fleetwood and South Africa’s Thomas Aiken a shot further back.
Us-based Scot Russell Knox is nine shots off the lead on eight-under-par.
leaderboard
(Gbr & Irl unless stated, par 71) 196 – Haotong Li (Chn) 66 67 63; 199 – Justin Rose 65 65 69, Alexander Levy (Fra) 67 66 66; 200– Thorbjorn Olesen (Den) 65 67 68; 201 – Sam Horsfield 66 67 68, Danny Willett 67 65 69;
202 – Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 71 65 66, Tommy Fleetwood 68 66 68;
203 – Lucas Bjerregaard (Den) 70 67 66, Tom Lewis 69 63 71, Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Tha) 66 70 67;
204– Jason Scrivener (Aus) 67 67 70, Paul Dunne 64 71 69, Martin Kaymer (Ger) 66 69 69, Adrian Otaegui (Spa) 68 65 71, Darren Fichardt (Rsa) 68 68 68, Thomas Detry (Bel) 66 70 68;
205 – Joost Luiten (Ned) 70 66 69, Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 69 66 70, Chris Paisley 67 69 69, Pablo Larrazabal (Spa) 68 69 68, Matthias Schwab (Aut) 69 69 67, Julian Suri (USA) 67 68 70, Tapio Pulkkanen (Fin) 68 70 67, Dean Burmester (Rsa) 72 65 68, Shane Lowry 68 70 67, Russell Knox 706669;
206 – Andy Sullivan 72 68 66, Thomas Pieters (Bel) 75 69 62, Padraig Harrington 65 70 71;
207– Andrew Johnston 71 70 66, Mike Lorenzo-vera (Fra) 70 65 72, Andrea Pavan (Ita) 68 75 64, Alexander null Bjork (Swe) 73 69 65, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 70 68 69, Hideto Tanihara (Jpn) 726471;
208– Marcus Kinhult (Swe) 70 70 68, Matt Wallace 67 70 71, Ryan Fox (Nzl)697168, ashun wu (chn) 6671 71;
209 – Lucas Herbert (Aus) 73 68 68, Lee Slattery 70 70 69.