Posted on: Sunday, July 6, 2003
Tiger in control of Western Open
Associated Press
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| Tiger Woods didn't have many bad shots in his third-round, 7-under-par 65 that increased his lead to six in the Western Open.
Associated Press |
Woods shot a 7-under-par 65 yesterday, setting a 54-hole tournament record with 18-under 198. That breaks by three strokes the mark set by Sam Snead in 1949 and matched by six others.
Woods also has matched the single-round scoring mark, shooting a 63 on Thursday.
"I think I got off to a good start," he said. "I hit the ball really well starting out, and on top of that, I made everything."
He also extended his lead to six shots — very bad news for his opponents. Of the other 30 tournaments he has led after three rounds, he's gone on to win 28 of them.
And two of those wins were right here in the 1997 and 1999 Western Opens.
Robert Allenby, who won the tournament in 2000, and Cliff Kresge are tied for third at 204. Rich Beem matched Woods' 65 and is seven strokes back.
"Obviously if Tiger keeps playing the way he is, no, there's no way," Beem said when asked if anyone could catch Woods. "Maybe somebody can shoot 63 or 62 and maybe he'll shoot even par."
