STEADY RORY

Sabbatini plays the patient game to seize one-stroke lead at Texas Open

South Africa’s Rory Sabbatini fired a seven-under-par 63 to capture the third-round lead in the US$4.5 million Valero Texas Open.

Sabbatini’s 14-under total of 196 put him one stroke in front of former Masters champion Zach Johnson, who posted sizzling 62 for 197. Tim Herron (67), Chris Stroud (69) and New Zealand’s Tim Wilkinson (63) shared third on 199.

“I’m just going to approach it the way I did the last couple of days,” said Sabbatini, whose last win was at the 2007 Colonial. “I’ve got a new driver in the bag and a new three-wood in the bag and they’re performing better and better each day.”

His round was highlighted by an eagle on the 11th, where he chipped in from about 10 yards in front of the green with a pitching wedge.

He nabbed three birdies in a row from the 13th, a par-three where he landed a sand wedge about four feet past and made the putt.

At 14 his poor drive bounced back into the fairway and he was on the green in two, two-putting for birdie from about 30ft.

At 15, he hit a nine-iron 18 feet past the hole and made it, and he capped his round with a birdie at the last, where he hit driver off the tee and knocked a pitching wedge to about l2ft to become the sole leader.

“It’s always fun to be in the lead, but you know, that’s the beauty of golf. Every time you tee it up on Thursday you’re tied for the lead,” Sabbatini said. “It has been a good week and I’m enjoying it.”

Sabbatini’s best Tens Open finish was a tie for 33rd, but said he was happy to make return trip to LaCantera while he was playing well.

“Obviously this course is not one that sets up very well when you’re spraying it,” he said. “It punishes you pretty quickly and pretty harshly.

The four-time PGA Tour winner admitted he had been fighting through a frustrating season. “It has just been matter of trying to be patient,” he said. “I’m not the most patient person with it, and it has been kind of a tough experience for me, but maybe - something to learn from and grow on.”

AFP, San Antonio, Texas

Schwartzel shoulders Spanish burden

South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel shrugged off a nagging shoulder injury to birdie the final hole for a one- shot lead after the third round of the Madrid Masters.

Schwartzel, who led with Australia’s Marcus Fraser on nine under overnight, hit a four-under-par 67 to go 14 under for the tournament on 199.

Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez carded a nine-under- par 62 to sit a shot behind in second on 13 under par.

Schwartzel gained shots at the fourth and fifth before an eagle at the 540-yard par-five seventh. He then birdied the eighth but dropped a shot at the par three ninth to reach the turn in 32.

He dropped another shot at the 12th but birdies at the par-five 14th and the 18th ensured his place at the top of the leaderboard.

“I didn’t feel very strong this morning but I felt I ground it out nicely today,” Schwartzel said. “I felt very weak and slept very badly last night. Thankfully my shoulder is fine now after the physio treated it, but I still felt ill and got some medication from the doctor.”

Gonzalez was 35 for the out ward nine but then carded birdies at the 10th and 11th before finishing with six threes in a row, including one at the par-five 14th and four birdies to come back in just 27.

Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal hit a nine-under 62 to be in third place on 11 under while Australia’s Andrew Tampion, England’s Paul Waring and Larrazabal’s compatriot Carlos Del Moral are tied for fourth on 10 under.

AFP, Madrid