With 65, Westwood zooms to one-shot lead at Andalucia Open MARBELLA, Spain -- Lee Westwood shot a 7-under 65 Saturday for a one-shot lead heading into the final round of the Valle Romano Andalucia Open on the European Tour. Westwood is 15-under with a 201 total, followed by Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano of Spain, who shot a 67 at Aloha Golf Club. Westwood's third round ended with bogeys at the last two holes -- one day after the Englishman set a course record with a 64.
"On the last two holes I short-sided myself, and it's just one of those things you have to accept," Westwood said. "I was trying to make birdie, not bogey, but I'm not particularly bothered. These things happen." Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa, who led after two rounds, shot a 66 and was two strokes off the leader. He shares third place with Michael Jonzon of Sweden, who had a 69. Frederik Andersson Hed of Sweden shot a course-record 64, and sits another stroke back. "I was pleased with the way I played. I didn't hit the ball as well as I would have liked but it was nice to hole a few putts for a change," said Westwood, who abandoned his belly putter after an opening 72 and is 15 under par for the following 36 holes. "My sole aim this week was to get my putting back in order and I've done that. It's been a great week so far no matter what happens," he added. "I was going round in circles and needed to find a new putting method and use it under pressure. All the boxes have been ticked already." Westwood's last European Tour victory came at the Dunhill Links in October 2003. "It would be nice to win tomorrow but I'm not overly concerned about that. "I'll be trying my hardest of course, but the reason for coming here was the putting and to build up some confidence for the big weeks coming up," he explained. "When I get into (a winning) position, I normally do the job. It's something I always felt fairly natural at and hopefully it will kick in tomorrow," he said. "Normally I'm a good front runner and I have more experience than anyone in the field of winning so I'm looking forward to it." After slipping to 63rd in the world rankings, Westwood failed to qualify for this week's Players Championship in Florida, where the players are competing for $9 million in prize money. Not that he is too bothered about that, either. "I was watching it on television last night and there wasn't an overwhelming sense of disappointment going over me, I must admit," Westwood added. "It's a massive tournament but they keep building it up as the 'fifth major,' but to be perfectly honest, it's not. It's just a big U.S. Tour event and I've talked to some people who were there and they got that feeling." Fernandez-Castano, who won the Italian Open last week and learned to play golf on the par-3 course here at Aloha Golf Club, warned Westwood that he was in the mood to do "something very special" on Sunday. "My coach arrived on Friday evening and we worked a little on the range before they closed it and it really paid off," said the 26-year-old, aiming to become the first player since Ernie Els in Dubai and Qatar in 2005 to win regular European Tour events in successive weeks. "I played very well today, and if I keep hitting it like that I really have a chance to win the tournament tomorrow," he added. "Lee is a super player with lots of victories worldwide, but I hope I can give him a hard time. "It's very nice for anyone to win on home soil, but there is always extra pressure and it's not going to be easy, but if you told me at the start of the week I would be second going into the final round, I would be very happy," he explained. "I feel I can do something very special tomorrow." Copyright 2007 Associated Press and PA Sport. All rights reserved. |