Golf:Pádraig Harrington's challenge for Pebble Beach National Pro-Am fell apart over the closing five holes of his third round at Spyglass Hill on Saturday as he dropped four shots to finish on eight under, seven shots of leader Charlie Wi.
The three-time major winner had made it to within three shots of the South Korean with a birdie on the third hole, his 12th of the day, but bogeys on the fifth and seventh, followed by a double-bogey six on the eighth scuppered his chances of being in the top three going into the final round at Pebble Beach.
His poor ending undone all his good work over his opening nine after he started with birdies on the 10th and 11th and stitched on another at the par-three 15th. Having made it to four under for the day after another two at the short third, he ended up signing for a level-par 72.
Wi maintained ice-cool composure to retain control of the event as some of golf's biggest names snapped at his heels.
Three ahead of the chasing pack overnight, Wi ground out a three-under-par 69 at Spyglass Hill, the most difficult of the three venues being used at this week's pro-am celebrity event.
The Korean, who has yet to win on the USPGA Tour, finished at 15 under, three strokes in front of American Ken Duke, who fired a five-under 65 on the relatively easy Monterey.
Lurking a further stroke back at 11 under was the ominous figure of Tiger Woods, who piled up six birdies in eight holes on the way to a five-under 67 at Pebble Beach.
Also in contention at nine under were three-times champion Phil Mickelson, who carded a 70 at Pebble Beach, and twice winner Dustin Johnson, after a 70 at Monterey.
Woods, bidding for his first PGA Tour victory in more than two years, knew had to shoot a low round to stay in touch with Wi.
“Charlie was playing well,” 14-times Major champion Woods told reporters. “He got off to a quick start, he was like one under through two or three holes, and he kept building on that.
“I needed to at least close the gap so I’m within touch tomorrow. I figured I had to shoot a good one today. I’ve won my share of events, and it feels good,” added Woods.
“That's the ultimate goal and that’s what we set out to do at the beginning of every event is to win it. That’s the goal tomorrow, as well.”
