Randhawa in line for career-best finish in world golf tourney

Jyoti Randhawa seems to have found his rhythm and focus at the right time as he added another two-under 70 on a difficult day to keep in sight a first-ever top five finish in a World Golf Championship (WGC). The Indian moved two places, from tied eighth to tied sixth at the end of the third round in the WGC-HSBC Champions here Saturday.

Randhawa was the highest Asian at eight-under 208 and six shots adrift of Phil Mickelson, who with a stunning 67 moved two shots ahead of joint overnight leader Tiger Woods. Woods (70) was tied for second with Nick Watney (70) and the duo was two behind Mickelson, who last month beat Woods in the year-ending tournament in US.

Randhawa, who is chasing a first career top-10 finish in a WGC event, could also squeeze into the top-60 in the European Money List and make it to the Gulf Nation for a shot at the first-ever staging of the lucrative Race to Dubai. A finish in top-four or five could raise Randhawa from his present 114th place to top-60.

No Asian player has won a WGC event, and the best by an Indian is tied-fourth by Jeev Milkha Singh earlier this year at WGC-CA event, while Thongchai Jaidee also has one top-10 in a WGC event.

Randhawa said: “I have been struggling for the last few months and I guess it came at the right time. Any time you shoot under par on this golf course, it's good, because the way they tuck the pins, it's playing really tough. I'm very happy and lucky to be where I am and let's hope I can carry on.”

Jeev, the highest Indian in world golf rankings and who has booked his place for Race to Dubai, made an upward jump with his best round of the week at two-under 70, which gave him a total of one-under 215. He moved from tied 45th to tied 32nd.

“I felt much better out there today, with some more putts falling. A good final round can see me attain a better finish,” added Jeev.

C. Muniyappa after a second round 69 dropped to a third round 78 and with it from tied 37th to tied 60th. Gaganjeet Bhullar once again struggled with a 76 and was tied 71st.

Randhawa, after an early flourish, which saw him win once in Asia and finish second in a joint-sanctioned event in Malaysia, has since struggled as he tried to tinker with his game a bit. But this week in Shanghai, he has gone back to what has worked for him and suddenly, the pennies and the putts are both dropping.

On his plan for the final day, Randhawa said: “It's not easy out there. Like I said, guys are trying to get aggressive, make a few bogeys and suddenly you're out of the tournament. I need to play consistently."

Ryan Moore (70) was fourth at 11-under and Lee Westwood was on a song with a front nine 31 for a 65 that saw him jump from 23rd to fifth. Randhawa and Anthony Kim (72) were tied for sixth, one shot ahead of Ernie Els (68), Martin Kaymer (69), Ryo Ishikawa (70) and Lin Wen-tang (70).

Mickelson will take a two-stroke lead over Woods and fellow American Watney into the final round after carding a 67. Mickelson dropped only his second bogey of the week as he added to his flawless second round 66 and progressed to 14-under par overall.

Two-time runner-up Woods followed up back-to-back rounds of 67 with a battling two under 70, while Watney sank mammoth eagle putt at the last to sign for the same third round score.

Moore continued the American domination as back-to-back birdies sealed a round of 70 to improve to 11 under, with Race to Dubai leader Westwood, who lost in a play-off to Mickelson two years ago, in the hunt a further shot off the pace after a sparkling seven under par 65.

Last updated on Nov 7^th, 2009 at 16:32 pm IST--IANS