Kaymer is hard on the heels of Justin as things heat up at The Belfry
ISPS HANDA UK CHAMPIONSHIP
Martin Kaymer was the big mover yesterday as he shot a third-round 66 to drag himself to within two shots of leader Justin Walters at the ISPS Handa UK Championship.
Kaymer’s six-under-par round took him to 10-under for the tournament as Walters doubled his slender advantage at the top of the leaderboard with a 69 to head into today’s final day.
His was not the best score of the day at the Belfry, however, with Englishman Laurie Canter carding a 65 to ease to seven-under.
Asked if he felt it was a 66 day when he went out in breezy conditions, the German said: “If you putt that way, yes.
“I was hitting the ball fairly fine over the last three days. I just needed one of those days where the putter is a little bit hot, and it was one of those days.”
Kaymer’s round, which left him tied in second place with France’s Benjamin Hebert, included eight birdies, five of them on the back nine, although dropped shots at the sixth and the 12th denied him a share of the lead.
He said: “If you hit fairways, it was okay. They had some tricky pin positions, especially the front nine. Also on the front nine, you have some tough tee shots.
“Usually the fairways feel wide because there’s very little rough, so, even if you get in the rough, you still have a chance to get on the green without a problem.
“Overall, it was probably the toughest day even if they put some tee boxes – like on 10 – forward, but it was still tricky to create birdie chances sometimes with those tricky pin positions.”
South African Walters said:
“I was really impressed with myself to be honest. I just wanted to go out there and stick with the though to keep playing aggressively and whatever came my way came my way.
“I stayed with it, gave myself the best chance of making birdies. For the most part I just wanted to be aggressive and I think that panned out for me today.”
Canter and compatriot Marcus
Armitage were among a group of four men three shots further back heading into the final round.
It proved a difficult day for England’s Paul Waring as his hopes of a second European Tour title were dealt a major blow when he had to sign for a fourover 76 – due in part to double bogeys at the sixth and final holes – to slip nine shots adrift of the leader.
Top Scot is Craig Howie in a tie for 11th place after shooting a third-round one-under 71 to stand at five-under -par for the tournament.
Calum Hill is a shot further back, while Stephen Gallacher is in a tie for 19th after a superb four-under 68 took him to a three-over total.
Marc Warren is on one-overpar and Liam Johnston is at five-over-par.