Golf:Chris Wood remained on target to claim his first European Tour victory as he extended his lead at the Iberdrola Open to four shots with a third-round 69 in Majorca today. The Englishman heads into the final round on nine-under-par - four shots clear of Shane Lowry and Darren Clarke.
Lowry went round in 63 today, equalling Gregory Bourdy’s course record, while Clarke signed for his second straight level-par 70.
The closest 23-year-old Wood has come to a European Tour title was a play-off defeat to Louis Oosthuizen at the Africa Open earlier this year.
Despite holding a healthy lead going into the final day in Majorca, he felt he deserved better.
He told www.europeantour.com: “I have extended my lead by one, which is good, but it was pretty tough today and I thought that I played pretty well and didn’t really get the rewards I deserved.”
The Bristolian birdied the first and 10th before dropping a shot on the par-four 14th.
“I felt I was pretty flawless on the front nine today so I just need to do what I have been doing and hole a couple of more putts and I should be all right.
“It’s pretty solid at the moment. I was eager to get going and I will be the same again tomorrow. I am ready to go again now if I had to.”
Lowry dragged himself into contention with his course-record seven-under-par 63, the highlight of which was an eagle at the sixth.
The Irishman, who burst onto the scene when he won the 2003 Irish Open as an amateur, identified his start as the main reason behind his impressive score.
“I was speaking to my coach last night and was saying that we have one of those courses here where you have to stay patient and plot your way round and hopefully the birdies will come,” he said. “That’s exactly what happened over the first two rounds and then today I got off to a great start and was four under through six holes — I just have to wait and see how the leaders get on and see what I have to do tomorrow.”
Clarke, a 2010 Ryder Cup vice-captain, stayed tied for second after his round of 70 and the 12-time European Tour event winner was satisfied with his performance.
“I played great and kept giving myself chance after chance and found myself with a very cold putter,” he said. “The forecast for tomorrow is for strong winds so hopefully I can play the way I have been and the putter warms up a bit.”
The 2012 Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal, who designed the Majorca course, carded a 66 to move into fourth place — one shot behind Lowry and Clarke.
Simon Thornton dropped back to one under with a 72, while Damien McGrane’s 68 moved him to level par.
