Webb extends lead to eight

Cristie Kerr was only saying what many have been thinking: Karrie Webb should be playing Tiger Woods.

The Australian star, who put on another awesome display in the third round of the Oldsmobile Classic today, might be willing.

"I think if people took it for what it's worth, I might enjoy it,'' Webb said. "But, if people are going to say after an 18-hole match that it determined the best player in the world, than I really don't want to be a part of it.

"I think it would be great to see us play together."

In the meantime, the No. 1 female player in the world has her sights on LPGA Tour records. Webb continued her assault today, breaking her own mark for 54 holes at Walnut Hills Country Club.

Webb, who matched the LPGA record for best round with an 11-under-par 61 in the second round, followed that with 66 for a three-round total of 193. Her 23-under total broke the mark of 22-under that Webb set last year in the Australian Ladies Masters.

Kerr and Meg Mallon were tied for second at 201, eight strokes behind Webb. Kerr shot a 65, and Mallon, playing with Webb, had a 71.

Kerr, who is 11th on the money list, will be paired with Webb in the final round.

"She's the best in the world right now,'' Kerr said. "I'd really like to see her go against Tiger, head-to-head. I'd love to see who would win. I think the answer would be she'd win one, he'd win another. It's a toss up really.

"We know how good Tiger is. But I don't know if the men know how good Karrie really is.''

Webb said it would be difficult to set up a golf course for such a match.

"If he hits it off the tee, he going to be at least 800 yards ahead of me. I'd need an extra 110 yards ahead of him on the tee. I don't think there's a course built to set us up equal.''

Certainly not user-friendly Walnut Hills, which the women play at 6,241 yards, meaning more records are almost certain to fall in the final round.

The LPGA record for 72 holes is 26-under 262, also by Webb in the 1999 Australian Ladies Masters.

"Hopefully, I can play solid tomorrow,'' said Webb, who has five LPGA victories already this season, including two majors. "I can take a shot at the record. But, I don't want to get too far ahead of myself.

"I don't want to do anything stupid.''

Lisa Walters set the Oldsmobile Classic record of 23-under in 1998. Webb's play has been so superior that she has tied that with 18 holes left to play.

"It's fun to see someone play that well,'' said Mallon, who applauded along with the fans when Webb rolled in a 6-foot putt for birdie on the final hole.

Mallon, whose course-record of 10-under in the first round lasted only one day, was three strokes back of Webb when the round started.

Things changed in a hurry.

Webb, striking the ball as well as she ever has, birdied three of the first four holes and was clearly on her way. Only the fact that she bogeyed Nos. 5 and 15 kept Webb from widening her lead any more than she did.

Perhaps the thing that made the bogey at No. 5 noteworthy was that it was so unexpected. Her second shot on the 511-yard hole landed in a slight divot and Webb couldn't pitch it out cleanly.

The ball landed 20 yards short of the green, and her chip ran 30 feet past the hole.

"That was a little careless, a little untiddy,'' Webb said. "But I came right back with birdies after both of my bogeys today.''

Webb drove into a bunker on the right side of the fairway on the 397-yard 15th. Her shot from the sand was just short of the green. Webb chipped within 12 feet, but couldn't get the saving putt to fall.

Webb has held a final-round lead 20 times and gone on to win 12 of those tournaments. She finished second seven times and tied for seventh once.

Even Mallon, who has an impressive record of comeback wins, conceded that this match was just about over.

"Yeah, I've had some runs, but I can't remember overcoming an eight-shot lead,'' Mallon said.

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