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TULSA, Oklahoma: World No. 1 Tiger Woods will have history on his
side heading into the final round of the 89th PGA Championship after
a solid one-under par 69 in the third round of the year’s final
major.
Woods is hoping to win his first major of 2007
after falling short in the Masters, British Open and US Open. He
looked unbeatable Saturday as US veteran Scott Verplank became the
latest playing partner to fall by the wayside.
“I accomplished my goal today,” Woods said.
“My goal was to shoot under par and increase my lead. Positive day
all around.”
Woods put himself in position to capture his
13th major, sprinting away from Verplank to reach a 54-hole total of
seven-under 203.
The others have their work cut out for them as
Woods has a three-shot lead on second-place Stephen Ames of Canada
and is a perfect 12-for-12 in majors when leading going into the
final round.
“In order to have a great year you have to win
a major championship,” Woods said. “I had some opportunities to
do it but haven’t done it. I have a chance to do it tomorrow.
Hopefully I can get it done.”
The PGA Championship winner has come out of the
final group in the last 11 years and in the six prior majors at
Southern Hills, every winner was ahead or sharing the lead after 54
holes.
Ames and American Woody Austin each posted 69s
and are three and four
shots back of Woods respectively.
Australian John Senden is five strokes behind
after shooting a 69 and Ernie Els, who also shot 69, is six shots
adrift.
Verplank finished with a disappointing four-over
74 to join a pack of seven at even par 210.
Competition for the record 1.26 million dollar
winner’s share was still wide until Friday when Woods cranked his
game up another notch, shooting a 63 and coming within one shot of
setting the record for the lowest score in a major.
Woods came to Tulsa as the overwhelming favorite
after a dominating eight-shot victory last week at the Bridgestone
Invitational.
--AFP
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