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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, November 15, 2009

Two tie Tiger in Australia


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Tiger Woods shot even-par 72 yesterday to fall into a three-way tie for the Australian Masters lead.

ANDREW BROWNBILL | Associated Press

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MELBOURNE, Australia — Tiger Woods has been saying since he first showed up on the PGA Tour that he plays only to win.

Lately, he has been making just as many Headline 1s when he loses.

In the 268 official tournaments that Woods has played around the world as a pro, he has never gone three consecutive events without winning when he held at least a share of the 36-hole lead.

That streak is in jeopardy in the Australian Masters, where Woods looked to be in control with a three-shot lead until stumbling to an even-par 72 in yesterday's third round to fall into a three-way tie with the Australian duo of Greg Chalmers (69) and James Nitties (69).

They are at 10-under 206, two shots ahead of Jason Dufner (71) and Cameron Percy (69).

"I played myself into a tie for the lead, and I could have easily played myself straight out of the tournament," Woods said yesterday. "But I grinded, I hung in there and turned it around. That's a huge positive."

Nitties just finished his rookie season on the PGA Tour and easily kept his card, although he is No. 223 in the world ranking. Chalmers, who hasn't won in Australia in 11 years, also finished among the top 100 on the PGA Tour money list and is No. 194 in the world. His goal this year was not to return to Q-school.

ELSEWHERE

Children's Miracle Network Classic: George McNeill closed with a double-bogey yesterday and will share the lead with three others entering the final round at Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

McNeill made two eagles on a cool day at Disney World Magnolia Course en route to a 3-under 69 that left him tied at 203 with Justin Leonard (71), Justin Rose (69) and Mathias Gronberg (66) after three rounds.

Taiheiyo Masters: Hirofumi Miyase shot a 5-under 67 yesterday to take a one-stroke clubhouse lead at 7-under 209 before darkness suspended the rainy third round at the Taiheiyo Club in Gotemba, Japan.

Daisuke Maruyama (68) eagled the par-5 18th and was a shot back along with PGA Tour player Ryuji Imada (69) at 208. Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa, a four-time winner on the Japan tour, was at 7 under with five holes remaining in the third round.

Hong Kong Open: Gregory Bourdy of France fired a 7-under 63 yesterday for a 54-hole total of 6-under 194 to take a two-stroke lead heading into the final round at the Hong Kong Open.

Robert-Jan Derksen of the Netherlands shot a 65 to stay within two strokes of Bourdy, a two-time winner on the European Tour.