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Golf briefs

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 4, 2001

Woods slips, still leads

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- After two straight rounds of peerless playing, Tiger Woods proved he can botch short putts like any weekend hacker.

But despite his first bogey of the tournament -- and a stretch in which he bogeyed three of five holes -- he entered today's last round of the Dubai Desert Classic with a one-stroke lead as he pursued his first victory of the year.

Woods, who had 64 in the opening two rounds, "squirreled" his way to 4-under-par 68 Saturday. He was a stroke ahead of playing partner Thomas Bjorn, who shot 67.

Woods, at 20-under 196, was closing in on victory after going 0-for-5 this season in U.S. tour events.

But he looked all too human at times on this manicured desert course -- especially on the 10th hole and facing a 3-foot putt.

"The first putt I pulled," he said. "The second I shoved, and the third putt I thought I hit pretty good. It went right in the middle -- granted, it was only 6 inches."

A tournament that once looked like a two-man show with Woods and Bjorn is a real chase.

Padraig Harrington was three strokes behind at 199 after 64. Jeev Milkha Singh shot 67 and was at 200. Four others were five strokes behind Woods.

Woods trailed Bjorn by one stroke after 12 holes when he picked up this third bogey, missing a par putt from 8 feet.

"It wasn't one of my easier rounds of golf," Woods said.

Said Bjorn: "That's just goes to show the guy is human. But he also showed his world class coming down the last four holes where he birdied three to get the lead."

Bjorn probably has played with Woods more than any European, and he's learned to adjust to the frenzy that goes with it. He said the worst experience he had playing with Woods came in last year's U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. Woods shot 71 into stiff wind and hard greens. Bjorn had 82.

"I didn't play very well and we know how well he played," Bjorn said. "I went home thinking: "You've got to learn to do it. You've got to learn to play with the guy if you're going to beat him.' "

Bjorn gets his chance today.

AUSTRALIAN MASTERS: Three-time and defending champion Karrie Webb held a five-shot heading into today's final round at Gold Coast.

It shouldn't have been that easy, but second-round leader Lynette Brooky had a nightmarish back nine at Royal Pines. Four strokes clear of the field at the start of the third round, Brooky ended with 4-over 76 and Webb surged ahead with 65.

Webb birdied her final three holes to put her in good shape to win her first tournament of 2001. Her long driving and accurate iron play helped her to a bogey-free round and 14-under 202.

TOSHIBA SENIOR CLASSIC: What a difference a day makes. After having a logjam of five atop the first-round leaderboard, Terry Mauney's 8-under 63 was just enough to grab a one-shot lead from opening-round co-leader Bob Gilder at the Senior PGA Tour's $1.4-million event in Newport Beach, Calif.

Mauney was at 12-under 130 after two rounds. Larry Nelson (9 under) also shot 63 and was third for today's final round.

The remaining first-round leaders -- Jose Maria Canizares (7-under 135), Dave Stockton (135), Dana Quigley (136) and Bruce Fleisher (136) -- couldn't keep up with Mauney and Gilder.

KENYA OPEN: Andrew Sherborne shot 3-under 68 for a two-stroke lead heading into today's final round in the European Challenge Tour event in Nairobi.

TODAY ON TV: Canadian, Barefoot Classic, 1:30, Golf Channel; Senior, Toshiba Classic, 6, CNBC.

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