Kapalua, Hawaii — Scott Verplank eagled the final hole to catch Kenny Perry after three rounds of the Mercedes Championships, the season-opening tournament that is looking more like a tuneup for the British Open.
In gusts up to 40 mph, so strong that tournament officials moved up four tees once the third round started, Verpank still managed a 3-under-par 70 and was at 206. Perry three-putted the 18th for a 71 and was also at 13 under.
Chris DiMarco had a 5-under 68, despite a double bogey on the par-5 fifth that summed up the tough conditions. His 8-foot par putt stopped a foot from the hole, and as he got ready to tap it in, the wind carried it 7 feet by.
DiMarco was at 207, tied with PGA champion David Toms (72).
"This is no fun," said Mark Calcavecchia, three strokes back after a 71. Sergio Garcia also had a 68 and was at 210, along with David Duval (72).
Tiger Woods suffered another dubious start, flaring his iron out to the right on the first hole and landing under a tree. He wound with a double bogey, then missed the next green by 30 yards to take a bogey. Just like on Friday, when he started with a triple bogey, he never quite recovered. Woods finished with another 74 and was 10 strokes behind.
No comments
Commenting is turned off for this story.