Buckle tied for lead at Buick

Asian Tour member Andrew Buckle surged into a share of the third round lead at the Buick Invitational after firing a four-under-par 68 at Torrey Pines on Saturday.

The 24-year-old Australian goes into the last day tied with overnight pacesetter Brandt Snedeker but looming large is title holder Tiger Woods, whose 69 put him just two off the lead in his bid for a seventh consecutive US PGA Tour victory.

Buckle, who finished fifth on the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit last year, fired seven birdies against three bogeys, but none was more important than the 15-foot birdie putt at the last hole which launched him to the top of the leaderboard.

Featuring in his maiden season on the PGA Tour, Buckle's confidence in securing a dream win is boosted by the fact that he won two Junior World Championship titles at Torrey Pines in 1999 and 2000.

"Good memories, that's for sure," said the Brisbane-born Buckle.

But he knows that chasing a first triumph in a field that includes world number one Woods is a different ball game all together.

"When you're a kid, 16, 17, life's pretty easy," he said. "You're just out there for a laugh and try to play some golf."

He did produce some quality golf, moving up the leaderboard with birdies on the eighth, 10th, 12th and 13th. Dropped shots on 14 and 16 saw him slip down momentarily but he drained a 15 foot putt at the last for birdie.

Initially, it was thought that Woods had done enough to force his way into the final grouping on Sunday and Buckle was relieved that it wasn't the case.

"I'm not playing with Tiger?" Buckle said. "Beautiful. I would have been pretty nervous."

He said that his two year stint on the Asian Tour had provided the launchpad to his career. "That kind of got me going, had a couple of nice finishes there," he said. "Asia has quite a few co-sanctioned with Europe ... so it's great competition and good experience for us to play against some of the top European players as well."

Korea's Charlie Wi, meanwhile, slipped back to tied eighth place after a 73 but his 208 total is only three shots behind the leaders. Wi had an up-and-down day with four bogeys against three birdies.

Another Australian Jarrod Lyle also carded a 73 to fall back into tied 26th place in what is his debut season on the US PGA Tour as well.

January 28, 2007

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