With a three-shot lead is Laurie set to Canter to Valderrama victory?
England’s Laurie Canter will take a three-shot lead over countryman Matt Fitzpatrick into today’s final round of the Andalucia Masters.
Canter birdied the last in a 67 to get to seven-underpar and give himself some breathing room at the top of the leaderboard, with Fitzpatrick carding a third-round 70 in his first event since the Ryder Cup.
It was just five years ago that Canter signed for an 89 at Valderrama in the Open de Espana but he is now on the brink of claiming his first European Tour title at the 1997 Ryder Cup venue, which is widely-regarded as one of the toughest tests in the game.
“The golf course doesn’t give you loads,” said Canter.
“Although, as we all know, there’s opportunities to drop shots here.
“I think what it means is I can go out tomorrow and play how I have these last couple of days. The score I end up on will be competitive, I think. That gives me a lot of confidence going in.
“The course is asking a lot of different challenges and you can’t dwell when it goes against you. I’m trying to stay as level as I can and I’m doing a good job.”
Birdies on the first and second had Canter in the lead but he gave the shots back on the third and fifth before gains on the sixth, eighth, 10th and 11th put him three ahead.
Fitzpatrick had turned in one over but he made a hat-trick of birdies from the 10th – including a chip-in on the 11th – to trim the lead to two.
Both players bogeyed the 13th but Canter hit a huge drive down the last and put an approach to 12 feet for a closing birdie and a three-shot cushion.
Fitzpatrick failed to claim a point as Europe were defeated 19-9 at Whistling Straits and the
Yorkshireman was happy to have the competitive juices flowing again.
“I’m excited to be in the final group,” said devoted Sheffield United fan Fitzpatrick.
“The aim at the start of the week is to be up there. It doesn’t get better than having a chance to win on Sunday. I’ll go out there and enjoy it.
“Valderrama was a real test today. I’m really pleased with the way I grinded it out and I’m happy with the one under.”
American David Lipsky was at three-under after a 64, with just nine players under par.
It was a bad day for Scotland’s Scot Jamieson as he slipped down the leaderboard into a share of 16th after a three-overpar round of 74.
Fellow Scot David Drysdale is in a share of 44th on four-over, while Bob Macintyre is at sixover and Grant Forrest sits on 11-over-par.