Atwal takes lead into final day

Nick Faldo's globe-trotting finally caught up with him in the third round of the £630,000 Caltex Singapore Masters at Laguna National.

Faldo began the day within two shots off the lead but struggled to a one-over-par 73 to fall four adrift of the pace set by India's Arjun Atwal going into Sunday's final round.

Atwal has a one-shot lead after carding a five-under-par 67, the best round of the day, for a 10-under-par total of 206 - a stroke ahead of first and second-round leader Nick O'Hern.

The Staffordshire-based Australian, who opened with a course-record 64 on Thursday, could manage only a level-par 72 to remain nine under - with American Jim Johnson a shot further back, also after a 72.

Faldo, seeking his first win on the European Tour since 1994 - a year after his last visit to Singapore when he won the Johnnie Walker Classic - finished 10th and sixth in his last two tournaments in Perth and Melbourne.

But instead of making the relatively short trip north from Melbourne, the 44-year-old flew to California for four days, Orlando for two days and spent half-term in London with his children before flying on to Singapore.

"I was way too tired today," he admitted after a round containing just one birdie.

"I was knackered out there. I played all right but I was using so much energy up reading the greens and trying to get the ball in the hole it's just worn me out.

"It was a long, hard day at the office. It was the heat and everything. I have just got to regroup after that.

"Its knocked the stuffing out of me, so I have got to get into the right frame of mind. That's the key thing. I have got to go for it, and things have got to happen.

"The swing was good. We hit a few balls last night, and it was good. I just struggled with the putts. It was a mixture of everything - either me or the read of the greens. It was tough to get it in the hole.

"Tomorrow I need to come out and feel I have got something in the tank. You need to pace yourself."

Atwal is only the second Indian to earn membership of the European Tour and is looking to be the first Indian winner in only his 18th event.

After earning his card through the qualifying school in November, he has played in all five European Tour events this season so far and finished 12th in the Dunhill Championship in Johannesburg which was won by Justin Rose.

"I've been playing well and was in contention in the Dunhill after three rounds and up there after two rounds the week before in Durban," said the 28-year-old from Calcutta, who speaks with an American accent after years studying in New York and Orlando.

"I also led with nine to play in the Myanmar Open on the Asian Tour two weeks ago and with three to play in the Honda Masters last week."

Pipped to the title on that occasion by compatriot Harmeet Kahlon, Atwal feels confident he can pull off a shock win in Singapore.

"I've not felt any pressure yet," he added.

"It's a big day tomorrow but it's not the first time I've been leading a European Tour event. I just want to play well and within my own game."

It looked as though O'Hern would lead for the third day running after he birdied the 16th to move to 11 under, but he three-putted the 17th and also bogeyed the last to finish a shot behind.

"I'm a bit disappointed now but I'm in with a chance tomorrow, and that's the main thing," said O'Hern.

"It would have been nice to have opened up a lead but it wasn't to be.

"It was tough going, and the wind was a big factor. I played solidly on the front nine with two birdies and seven pars but played a couple of loose shots coming home."

Meanwhile, Sweden's Richard S Johnson - winner of the last tour event in Sydney - continued his run of good luck by holing in one on the 17th to win a Volkswagen Beetle Turbo.

O'Hern had aced the same hole in the pro-am on Wednesday, but the car was only on offer for the first hole-in-one during the tournament.

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page