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| Tiger cut a frustated figure on Saturday as he awaits for his game to come together |
Speaking after his early start alongside Bubba Watson and Ian Poulter, who shot a disastrous 80, Woods reflected on the issues he is having in adapting his new game born on the driving range, onto the golf course in tournament play. "I'm trying to get used to my new setup, my new lines," said Woods, who will partner South African, Hennie Otto, ranked 198th in the world on Sunday. He went on to say: "I'm used to curving the ball a lot more. Now I hit it straighter. … I've had reps, but not in tournament play. When I get in tournament play, I fall into my old patterns."
Woods, understandably frustrated with how things having quite clicked so far, must be internally content going into next week that he is close to putting it all together. He is very close. Compare this performance to that of Tiger 12 months ago, when he completed Sunday lunchtime with a 4 round total of +18 and tie for 78th place. Tiger has on occasions this week, driven the ball well, controlled his irons perfectly, and at times, he has even made crucial putts. The one drawback being, these ingredients have rarely come together. When they finally click together, and it might even be tomorrow, we will see a Tiger Woods who can go into Atlanta Athletic Club, viewed as a genuine contender to win his 5th PGA Championship.
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| Adam Scott alongside Steve Williams leads the WGC |
As for the summit of this very fine Championship, irony lovers will be clapping their hands in glee, as Adam Scott, alongside jilted former caddie of Woods, Steve Williams, remains one step ahead of the pack at Firestone. Scott's fantastic 3rd round of 66, which was compiled massively during a fantastic back nine burst of form in which he birdied 4 of 5 holes, as he swiftly outperformed the performances of his Friday co leading playing partners, Ryan Moore and Rickie Fowler. However, Fowler after a shaky start, came together after a holed approach shot at the 13th, his second such effort of the week. That eagle brought him back to where he started, and he subsequently went on to birdie the last which got him under par the day, and left him only 3 back of the lead going into Sunday. But Adam Scott will be a tough man to overcome. The sweet swinging Aussie, long labelled the games next greatest star following his impresssive victory at the 2004 Players Championship, has in recent times been given the unwanted tag of an underachiever. A label that a victory at Firestone would goal long way to removing, seems very achievable for Scott. The Australian, now allied alongside the extensive experience of Steve Williams, who clearly has an edge and is used to the emotions that go around trying to achieve a victory, arguably an aspect that Scott has lacked on occasions, can now find real confidence within his game, with his putting problems resolved. Yes it may be ugly, and yes it may seem unethical, but the long putter has brought Adam results, illustrated with his close 2nd place finish at Augusta. A win tomorrow would further justify Adam's usage of the broomhandle, and he could even take that confidence into Atlanta, and attempt to win a magic double that only a certain Mr Woods has achieved.
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| Ryo Ishikawa on a walk towards history |
Adam Scott, will have to work for this win on Sunday, as an international, youthful and talented chasing pack lurks just behind ready to pounce on any mistakes that the Aussie makes. 19 year old Japanese superstar, Ryo Ishikawa, who despite all of the billing he has received, has never really contended outwith his own country, will partner Scott in the final round. Ryo, known this year for his incredible gesture of donating every $ he makes this year to the Japanese Tsunami Relief Fund, undoubtedly compiled his best ball striking round ever in the States on Saturday. A victory for Ryo on Sunday would make him the youngest winner of a PGA Tour sanctioned event since Johnny McDermott won the 1911 US Open, aged 19 years and 10 months. One of a series of many fascinating plotlines going into the final round.
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| Jason Day looking to upstage Scott |
The talented young American Keegan Bradley, in his rookie season, has a smooth swing and a solid temperment, and a victory at Firestone, would mark an incredible rise in the game since his Byron Nelson win back in May. Scotland's Martin Laird, who got married last week and is spending his honeymoon contending at Firestone (I'd do the same) could continue the run of European success in the bigger events of the game, and earn Scotland, its first ever WGC Championship. Jason Day will be looking to overhaul his fellow Aussie, and cap off his great form this year in the Majors with a win at Firestone, which would continue his meterioric rise through the game. Jason has risen from 38th to 8th this year, and a win this week would be the near perfect way to top that progress off. World Number One, Luke Donald looks threatening sitting 3 shots behind, after a fantastic round of 64, the joint best of the day. Luke is trying to bounce back from his dissapointing performance at Royal St Georges, and a win on Sunday would be a perfect confidence boost, as he looks forward to the PGA and his assualt at both the Fed EX Cup and Race to Dubai crowns. Rory McIlroy will also be looking to make a run tomorrow. Having been frustrated with his putting all week, Rory, who has found the headlines due to his playing intentions for 2012, will be looking to post a very low number at Firestone, one of his favourite courses on Sunday. However, he will require something similar to his performance last year at Quail Hollow when his final day 62 saw him leap ahead of the pack and claim his first PGA Tour title. That what's required for Rory, and he is certainly capable of achieving it, as he looks to turn the headlines from his personal life onto his golf.
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| Sweet Honeymoon so far for Martin Laird |
It's going to be a fascinating, unpredictable final day of this WGC Bridgestone Invitational, and I for one can't wait to see what transpires at Firestone!
Enjoy.
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