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Woods' Grand Slam hopes fading
12/04/2008 22:42 - (SA)
Georgia - Tiger Woods' quest for golf's first Grand Slam looked to be in serious danger of being extinguished on Saturday as he struggled to make up lost ground on the leaders.
Woods started the third round tied for 13th, seven back of halfway leader Trevor Immelman, and badly in need of a low round to give himself a chance of winning a fifth Masters title and a 14th career major on Sunday.
Patience was the key, he said, and he needed that quality when he was forced to scurry for cover as a thunderstorm swept Augusta National just as he headed for the tee.
When he did finally get his round underway 45 minutes later he grabbed an early birdie at the par-five second, but then had to settle with a run of seven straight pars through to the turn missing makeable birdie putts at seven and eight.
There were nine pairings behind him with new tournament favourite Phil Mickelson, who started the day four strokes ahead of Woods, saving par on the first and then chipping to a few inches for birdie on the second to get to six under.
Immelman, meanwhile, held steady with pars at the first two holes. The South African, who underwent major surgery to remove a non-cancerous growth from his diaphragm just 14 weeks ago, was one of just two players to shoot in the 60s in both of the first two rounds
Tournament
He had two 68s, while playing partner Brandt Snedecker had a 69 and 68 in his first Masters as a professional. Snedecker birdied the second to join Immelman in the lead at eight under.
In front of them, Steve Flesch, who had the best round of the tournament to date with a 67 on Friday birdied the second to join playing partner Mickelson on six under.
The English challenge was alive and kicking as Paul Casey birdied the second to join compatriot Ian Poulter at five under for the tournament, while 2003 champion Mike Weir of Canada and South African Retief Goosen both grabbed early birdies that took them to four under.
Best mover of the day out on the course was defending champion Zach Johnson who followed his morale-sapping 76 of Friday with four birdies to get to two under through 14.
First round joint leader Justin Rose, however, appeared to have played himself out of contention after going into the water on the 11th to stand at four over through 16.
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Rugby
