2007 Barclays Singapore Open - Round 3: Cabrera opens up four shot lead

The Argentinean showed the huge galleries that followed his group why he won the US O pen this year by opening up a four-shot lead after firing a solid one-under-par 70.

He leads the US$4 million Asian Tour event on nine-under-par 204, and at one point during the round he appeared to be running away with the tournament after going 10 under par following a birdie on the seventh.

Unheralded American Jin Park lies in second place after returning a 72, one ahead of Englishman Lee Westwood, who came in with a 71, thanks to an eagle on the last hole.

Australian Adam Scott, who has won this star-studded event for the past two years, and Vijay Singh from Fiji are a stroke further back on 210. World number two Phil Mickelson is nine behind the leader after returning a 73 during a day which saw both him and his caddie fall sick.

Cabrera had no such problems and played coolly and confidently.

“I played quite a good round, it was a working round. I had to work my way around, it was tough, the winds were picking up and the greens are getting very hard. One under par I'm very happy with,” said Cabrera.

The big-hitting Argentinean had started the day with a two shot lead and his position at the top was never threatened. Dropped shots on the 12 th and 14 th were the only blemishes on his scorecard.

“I'm feeling comfortable. I'm hitting the ball well. I've got a four shot lead, so that's a bit of a cushion for tomorrow,” added Cabrera, who earlier in the week Mickelson described as being arguably the biggest hitter in the game.

Park, who is playing on the Asian Tour for the first time this year, is thrilled to be playing so well in what is Asia's richest national O pen and the Tour's flagship event.

“It is a great feeling to be lying in second place. I have never been so nervous for all 18 holes in my life. I was a nervous wreck. Thankfully I hit the fairway on one, hit the green on one. The whole round was a blur, I was really nervous. I managed to play well and held in there,” said Park.

Scott has not quite been able to repeat the kind of form which has seen him win here for the past two years but he is still very much in the hunt.

He carded a 73 and commented: “It was a bit warmer, a bit more like Singapore today. Starting out, it was very warm and very uncomfortable but some clouds came in and the breeze picked up which was more enjoyable for us. But it's tough out there with the winds blowing. Just coming in, I didn't putt very good.”

He is six strokes behind Cabrera but doesn't feel he is out of it yet particularly on the demanding Serapong Course.

“I think on this course I have a chance especially with trouble lurking every where. The fairways are tight and six shots is definitely doable. I've got to play extremely well and hope that Angel doesn't come out with his best. If I can come out with a good start and keep myself in the hunt, posting some numbers would be a good thing to do here,” added Scott.

Westwood, runner-up in 2005, triple-bogeyed the 16 th hole but made up for it with an eagle on the last, a par five. “It was nice to finish with the eagle after the triple. I made a couple of great shots and rolled in a nice putt in from seven feet,” said the Ryder Cup star.

This week marks Mickelson's maiden appearance on the Asian Tour but a combination of the heat and humidity and upset stomachs got to both him and his caddie.

His regular man on the bag Jim Mackay felt unwell and had to leave the course after the sixth hole and was replaced by Mickelson's father in law, Gary McBride. Mickelson suffered from stomach cramps and headaches and was unable to attend his post round press conference in order to see a doctor.

“I think it's the first time in 15 years that my caddie wasn't able to finish a round. I've been getting similar symptoms of stomach cramping and headache. It was brought out more by the heat too. But I fought hard today although I didn't play as well as I wanted to,” said Mickelson, who birdied 17 and 18.

“I'm going to stay inside for a little bit and cool off before I head back to the hotel. I'm going to just stay in the room tonight and take it easy and see if I can get myself to feel better for tomorrow's round. I'm really sorry for not staying back after to sign (autographs) and do the interviews. I'll try my best to do that tomorrow,” he added.

Korean star Choi Kyung-ju shot a 75 and is two over par while Darren Clarke from Northern Ireland had a 76 and is five over.

Leading third round scores (click here for full leaderboard):

204 - Angel Cabrera (ARG) 71-63-70
208 - Jin Park ( USA ) 66-70-72
209 - Lee Westwood (ENG) 71-67-71
210 - Vijay Singh (FIJ) 70-70-70, Adam Scott (AUS) 70-67-73
211 - Anthony Kang ( USA ) 69-70-72
212 - Shiv Kapur ( IND ) 73-70-69, Tetsuji Hiratsuka (JPN) 68-71-73, Gavin Flint (AUS) 66-72-74, Keith Horne (RSA) 70-68-74
213 - Boonchu Ruangkit (THA) 72-71-70, Prom Meesawat (THA) 72-69-72, Phil Mickelson ( USA ) 68-72-73
214 - Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 71-73-70, Kane Webber (AUS) 66-76-72, Mark Brown (NZL) 71-69-74
215 - Chapchai Nirat (THA) 70-74-71, Chinarat Phadungsil (THA) 73-71-71, Azuma Yano (JPN) 71-72-72, K J Choi (KOR) 68-72-75, Quincy Quek [A] (SIN) 71-68-76
216 - Simon Griffiths (ENG) 75-69-72, Richard Lee (NZL) 69-74-73, Guido Van Der Valk (NLD) 71-71-74, Zaw Moe (MYN) 70-76-70

November 3, 2007

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