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Monday August 10, 2009

Harrington and Woods set up intriguing battle for title

AKRON (Ohio): Padraig Harrington and six-time champion Tiger Woods set up a mouth-watering last-day duel for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational with electrifying displays on the back nine in Saturday’s third round.

Overnight leader Harrington reeled off four birdies in six holes from the 12th on the way to a three-under 67 at a rain-softened Firestone Country Club, stretching his advantage to three strokes.

In the groove: Tiger Woods watching his tee shot on the 16th hole during the third round of the Bridgestone Invitational on Saturday. He was in second place after shooting a five-under 65. — Reuters

Although the Irishman briefly faltered with a bogey at the par-five 16th where he duffed his fourth shot from a greenside bunker, he drained a 19-footer on the 17th green to finish at 10-under 200.

“I’m obviously happy with my day’s work,” Harrington told reporters.

“The key is to keep breaking 70. That makes sure everybody else, if they’re going to win this tournament, they’re going to have to play well.

“I was really pushing hard to put some room between me and the field, and that was a nice feeling. I was just going after things and really trying to go forward.”

Harrington is bidding to win his first title on either the PGA or European Tours since last year’s PGA Championship at Oakland Hills.

Woods, seeking his fifth PGA Tour victory of the year on one of his favourite layouts, birdied four of the last six holes for a superb 65, matching the best score of the day.

The 14-time major winner, whose approach play and putting were in sizzling order, sank a seven-foot birdie putt at the last to secure second place at seven-under.

South African Tim Clark, playing with Harrington in the final pairing, carded a 71 to lie five strokes off the lead in a tie for third with American Jerry Kelly (69).

Clark, however, was later given a two-stroke penalty for incorrectly replacing his ball on the 16th green after initially removing it so Harrington could putt, his error dropping him back into a tie for 14th at three-under.

British Open champion Stewart Cink of the US (68) and Masters winner Angel Cabrera of Argentina (68) were among a group of 10 players bunched at four-under.

Woods, however, cast an ominous shadow over the rest of the elite field of 79, Harrington included.

He has won the Bridgestone Invitational six times in just nine starts and said his game had improved since he clinched his 69th PGA Tour victory at the Buick Open last Sunday.

“I’ve made some improvements and I’m more confident in what I’m doing,” Woods told reporters after piling up six birdies and a sole bogey in overcast, wet conditions at Firestone.

“This week I hit the ball pretty good, especially today on the back nine. I drove the ball pretty good all day and hit some really good iron shots in there today.

“I’ve always felt comfortable here, there’s no doubt,” he added of the tree-lined Firestone layout.

“Certain golf courses, no matter how I’m playing going in, I always feel very comfortable once I get there.”

Three-time major champion Harrington acknowledged the threat posed by Woods.

“At the end of the day, there is an intimidation factor there,” the Irishman said. “I’m going to have to play good golf to win this tournament.

“There’s no getting way from it. Tiger obviously loves this golf course, and I’ve got to expect that he’s going to perform tomorrow.

“If I shoot sub-70, he’s going to have to play a good round of golf to win. If he does, I’ll pat him on the back and say well done, because he will have played well.” — Reuters

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