lakelady
ForumsNet Moderator
Moderator
ForumsNet Member
Posts: 11251
|
 |
Why am I so in Love with this Man?
« on: Jun 5th, 2004, 7:45pm » |
 Quote  Modify
|
Freddie, you rock my world.
Hey, Good Buddy
"Big Easy and Boom-Boom" sounds like one of those buddy pictures that Hollywood churns out every summer. But after three rounds of the Memorial, that's the title of the leaderboard, where leading men Ernie Els and Fred Couples are paving the way.
Ernie Els and Fred Couples congratulated each other on a day well done at the Memorial. (Photo: AP)
In the News
Casey pulls ahead by three shots with one round to go in the Wales Open
Wilson of Scotland wins the British Amateur over Corfield at St. Andrews
The old Kemper Open has a new name, a new date and a muddled future
European Tour Notebook: Big-money HSBC World Match Play expands its field
Cal wins the NCAA crown while Moore of UNLV takes the individual title
06.05.2004 07:16 pm (EST)
DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) -- Ernie Els came out firing and never let up Saturday until he had a 6-under 66, an immaculate round that gave him a two-shot lead at the Memorial and his best chance to win at Jack's place.
Els pulled away with back-to-back birdies late in the round at Muirfield Village, getting up-and-down on the par-5 15th and following with a tee shot into 6 feet on the 16th to give himself a small cushion over Fred Couples (6 , K.J. Choi (6 and Justin Rose (69).
Despite missing an 8-foot birdie on the final hole, Els was at 12-under 204 and had a 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour for the first time since winning the season-opening Mercedes Championships last year. He has not lost such a lead in four years on tour, although the Big Easy has his work cut out for him.
Five players were within three shots of the lead, including three-time Memorial winner Tiger Woods, who got into Sunday contention for the third straight time with a 67 that put him at 9-under 207.
"No matter what, it's going to be a great finish with the quality of players up there and the closing holes as tough as they are," Els said. "It's going to be a close finish."
Couples, the '98 winner at Memorial, continued to electrify the gallery with sensational shots. The latest was a wedge he holed from 70 yards on No. 17 for birdie that put him at 206 and in the final group with Els.
"I've got a great shot at winning," Couples said. "That doesn't happen very often."
Choi spent most of the sunny afternoon sharing top billing with Els on the leaderboard, but he had to recover from a couple of bogeys. The stocky South Korean also birdied the 17th to get to 10-under 206.
Rose stumbled to a double bogey early in the round, but that was his only mistake.
Els loves Muirfield Village so much -- he hasn't missed the Memorial since he started playing in 1994 -- that he came over after two weeks in Europe, even though this means he will play six straight tournaments through the U.S. Open.
His best chance came in 1996 when he trailed Tom Watson by two shots going into the final round, but stumbled to a 75 and tied for sixth. He was runner-up in 2000, although he finished five shots behind Woods.
Now, he is clearly the man to beat.
"It'd be great," Els said. "Anyone you want to take, but it's a special field and it's a special place because of Jack Nicklaus."
Nicklaus, the 64-year-old tournament host, played like his age Saturday and had to play the final five holes in 1 under to shoot a 77.
Stephen Ames, regarded as the best player to have never won on the PGA Tour, birdied the 18th for a 70 and was tied with Woods at 207.
British Open champion Ben Curtis, tied for the lead with Rose and Ames after 36 holes, had a 73 and left him six shots behind, along with defending champion Kenny Perry (66).
Curtis got off to a rough start even before he made the 20-minute drive from his home in Ostrander. He nicked himself shaving, and was bleeding from the neck on the third tee. After getting some bandages to stop the bleeding, he took double bogey by hitting into the water and never quite recovered.
Els has been on top of his game for the better part of two years, and a victory Sunday likely will enable him to surpass Vijay Singh at No. 2 in the world ranking.
Eight players were separated by three shots at the start of the round, but Els came out hot. He was aggressive off the tee and at the flag, and surged into the lead with back-to-back birdies on the fifth and sixth holes.
"He attacked the course today," Couples said. "He started out hitting driver and never let up. He had a couple of breaks, but it was an easy 66."
The biggest boost for Els came at the par-5 11th.
After driving left into a miserable lie, Els could do nothing but hack out to the fairway. With a 5-iron from 203 yards into a stiff breeze, the ball stopped just on the ridge, and Els barely moved his putter in holing the 18-foot birdie.
That gave him a one-shot lead over Couples and Choi, and he kept his foot on the gas.
Woods stayed in the hunt after his worst swing of the day, a 3-iron that sailed 50 yards left of the 15th green, plunked a spectator on the head and wound up in the 16th fairway. Woods hit a flop shot to the fringe, then made it for an unlikely birdie.
"I needed to somehow get to 9 or 10 (under) to give myself a chance," Woods said.
Conditions were slightly easier Saturday with only a mild breeze, and if it stays the same Sunday, it could be a thrilling shootout among so many top players.
"You're still going to have to make birdies," Woods said. "You can't make pars and expect to win the tournament."
Copyright (c)2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
|
Sponsored by: The Fans!
Home
Help
Search
Members
Chat
Member Map
Login
Register
Reply
Add Poll
Notify of replies
Send Topic
Print