| Straffan,
Ireland, 22nd August 1998 -
Swedish outsider Mathias Gronberg capped a stylish round of golf with a last hole
eagle at the European Open on Saturday to take a three-stroke lead into Sunday's
final day. Gronberg,
54th on the European money list, finished the day 10 under par after a 67 to follow
scores of 68 and 71 on the first two days of the 1.3-million-pounds ($2.08 million)
tournament at the K Club, south of Dublin. The
Swede saved his best for last as he holed a 30-foot eagle putt on the 18th to
the cheers of several thousand Irish supporters. "I've
got to try and stay calm. This course can be very punishing," said Gronberg,
whose only tour victory was in the European Masters in 1995 and who was ranked
107th last year. He
attributes his recent improvement in form to getting engaged to an American. The
28-year-old from Stockholm has finished in the top 10 four times this season,
including a seventh place at the Scandinavian Masters earlier this month. With
the best known names either failing to make the cut or performing poorly, little-known
American Craig Hainline -- playing in Europe because he has been unable to qualify
for the U.S. PGA tour -- was second seven under par after a round of 69. Hainline,
consistently hitting the middle of the fairway, shot four birdies as he kept the
pressure on playing partner Gronberg with a total of 209. German
veteran Bernhard Langer, joint leader overnight, fell away to finish three under
after a round of 75, saved from total disaster by birdies at the last two holes.
Also on three
under were the other overnight leader, Jose Rivero of Spain, and Northern Ireland's
Darren Clarke, whose 70 included some superb putting. Nicklaus
slips back Gary
Nicklaus, the son of golfing legend Jack Nicklaus who was four under at the start
of the day, saw his challenge crumble and he ended one over par after a 77. Welshman
Phillip Price fired four birdies on the back nine to finish two under par and
four others, including Dane Thomas Bjorn and fellow Welshman Ian Woosnam, were
one under. England's
Lee Westwood, ranked ninth in the world and standing top of the European money
list, said he may be forced to pull out of the tournament with a hip problem unless
it responds to physiotherapy. Westwood
shot 77 to be nine over par but is fighting to stay on top of the European rankings
list and hold Clarke at bay. The
Englishman said he had pulled out of next week's BMW International Open in Munich
to rest his hip, which has been bothering him for several months. Scot
Colin Montgomerie and American Payne Stewart failed to make the cut on a K Club
course that is considerably more difficult than in previous years as Ireland seeks
to attract the 2005 Ryder Cup to the course, which criss-crosses the River Liffey.
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