Spanish Ryder Cup player Miguel Angel Jimenez survived a bout of back nine bogeys
and a twin threat from Swede Pierre Fulke and Britain's Colin Montgomerie to hang
on to his lead in the Lancome Trophy on Saturday.
Defending champion Jimenez at one stage established a five stroke lead but an
indifferent back nine for a third round one-under-par 70 saw the gap close to
only one shot between him and second placed Fulke.
The Spaniard could face a stiff test from six-times European number one Montgomerie
in the final round on Sunday with the Scot only two shots off the lead and seeking
his sixth win of the year.
Jimenez's four bogeys after the turn took his total back to 11-under-par 202,
while Fulke, without any Ryder Cup pressures on him, returned a 65 with seven
birdies on the card.
Montgomerie's putting let him down going out, so the Scot changed grip and that
resulted in three birdies to put the squeeze on Jimenez as he carded 68 for 204.
Jimenez could
be playing for a place in the first morning's foursomes at Brookline next week
and another player trying to impress captain Mark James, Sweden's Jarmo Sandelin,
is only three shots off the lead after a 69.
The Swede shares fourth place on 205 with 1997 Ryder Cup Spaniard Ignacio Garrido.
Although Montgomerie
said he felt Jimenez had already done enough to seal a place in the first series
of foursomes next week, the Spaniard refused to speculate on his chances.
He was unworried by being nearly caught either.
"I'm
still playing well," said the Malaga professional, "And I don't feel I played
badly enough for the four bogeys I made coming in.
"A
three-putt on the 10th seemed to start a bad run.
"I'll
be concentrating on the round tomorrow and defending my title, no matter what
Monty says. I can't be thinking about Ryder Cup pairs because you can't think
of two things so important at the same time. I'll just be doing my best.
"If I can beat someone like
Montgomerie, the European number one, then it will be a good win."
Montgomerie predicted Jimenez would be paired with Jose Maria Olazabal on the
first day of the Ryder Cup.
Masters champion Olazabal had an erratic day and twice hit trees from the tee
as he missed nine fairways on his way to a 71 to stay four-under-par.
Captain James was unworried by his lapses and said: "You can get the best out
of him (Olazabal) in a week like the Ryder Cup. He's a streak player and plays
on emotion.
"I
think he's come out of his slump and I'm expecting him to be one of our key players."
Olazabal, who
in one British newspaper had been reported as likely to pull out of the Ryder
Cup because of poor form, said: "It would take something very special to keep
me away from the Ryder Cup and not just a few bad shots.
"I've
got a lot of positive things from this week on a difficult course. And I'll be
working hard next week -- not hitting any walls either!"
The double Masters champion was referring to his punch at a hotel wall after the
first round of the U.S. Open which began a three-month slump in form.
