The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Chopra in joint second spot

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 06, 2006

Sport

Sport - Golf

Chopra in joint second spot

Doral : Daniel Chopra's fine touch with the putter continued to stand him in good stead as he rolled in a card of four-under 68 on the third day to move to tied second place in the star-studded Ford Championship golf tournament here on Saturday.

The Swede-Indian was just two shots behind World No.1 Tiger Woods, who was at 17-under after another controlled round of four-under 68, despite a double bogey midway through.

Also in tied second was Rich Beem, the 2002 PGA champion, who came in with a 69 to total 15-under. He shot five birdies and two bogeys in his round. Arjun Atwal slipped to tied 54th after a two-over 74 in the third round.

Birdie on 18th

Chopra was one of the only four players to birdie the difficult 18th, which took a toll on many including overnight co-leaders Camilo Villegas and Scott Verplank, both of whom had double bogeys and Phil Mickelson, who had a bogey after going into the water.

Chopra, too, went into the right behind a huge banyan, but got relief and a free drop, from where he hit to about 60 feet from the pin. With his putter doing a great job through the week — with 26 putts on the third day after 24 each on the first two days — he sank the putt for a day's card of four-under 68 and a total of 15-under

Atwal began well with two birdies on his first two holes but then slid very badly with four dropped in four holes from fifth to eighth including a double bogey on the sixth. There was consolation with birdies on the tenth and 14th but bogeys on 11th and the tough 18th negated them as he ended the day at two-over 74 and in the tied 54th place, down from 25th after second round.

Chopra picked up birdies on first two holes and his only bogey of the day came on fifth but three birdies on the back nine on tenth, 16th and 18th saw him finish at 68. — PTI

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