Lee Westwood (England) took the lead in the third round of the American Professional Golf (PGA) Tour Arnold Palmer Invitational ($9.3 million in total prize money).
Westwood hit 7 under par 65 in the 3rd round at Bayhill C&L (par 72,7454 yards) in Orlando, Florida on the morning of the 7th (Korean time), leaving 1 eagle, 8 birdies and 3 bogies. Westwood jumped from 11th place to the sole lead with a median total of 11 under par with 205 strokes.
Westwood, 48, won 25 wins on the European Tour this year, but it’s all about reaching the top two times on the PGA Tour. Westwood aims to win three PGA Tour careers in 10 years and 9 months after the St. Jude Classic in June 2010.
Bryson Dishambo (US) and Corey Connors (Canada) are pursuing Westwood with a tie for second place in the first stroke, with 206 strokes per 10 under par. DeChambo drew attention by attempting a shot across the lake at the 6th hole (par 5) set at 531 yards on this day.
Since this hole is curved to the left along the lake, it is 530 to 555 yards if you hit the tee to the fairway, but you have to spend 345 yards if you hit the green directly. DeChambo went back to the fairway in the first and second rounds, but this day he directly aimed at the green side. However, it aimed a little closer to the right than the green, and this ball hit 347 yards in flight distance and 370 yards in rolled distance after landing. When swinging, the club head speed was 220 km per hour and the ball speed was 315 km per hour. DeChambo, who sent the ball 70 yards away, ended the hole with a birdie.
Jordan Spies and Keegan Bradley (above the United States) are tied for fourth with 207 strokes at 9 under par. Spice scored a hole-in-one on the second hole (par 3) at 222 yards. He abstained from back pain after Justin Rose (England), who was playing with him, finished the third hole, and since then, he played the third round alone.
Lim Seong-jae (23), who was in 7th place until the 2nd round, left 3 birdies and 3 bogies on this day. Im Seong-jae made a good grade in this competition, ranking third in the last two years in a row.
Korean-American player Doug Kim (USA) maintained a 7-under par 209 and finished the third round with Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) tied for 7th. Jazz, also tied for seventh, Watananon (Thailand) made a hole-in-one on the 14th hole (par 3) at 212 yards.
Reporter Heo Jong-ho [email protected]