Karlsson maintains 2-shot lead
ALVESLOHE, Germany (AP) – Robert Karlsson took a two-shot lead over Lee Westwood with a 6-under 66 Saturday in the third round of the Deutsche Bank Players’ Championship. The Swede birdied the long 17th hole to maintain his lead over Westwood, who also birdied it. Karlsson has a 20-under total of 196 with Westwood (67) at 198.
Ian Woosnam shot a 69 to hold a share of third place with Charl Schwartzel (68). Both were at 16-under 200.
Retief Goosen (69), Gary Orr (70) and Emanuele Canonice (66) were each another shot back.
Karlsson has just one bogey in three rounds on the 7,290-yard Gut Kaden course – on the fourth hole Friday.
“I’m really happy with the way I felt out there,” Karlsson said.
Karlsson would move into the top 10 on the points lists for a Ryder Cup spot if he wins on Sunday, a fact he downplayed.
“There’s a lot more out there tomorrow than the Ryder Cup to play for,” he said. “I look at the tournament as one separate thing. If I should win tomorrow, I would look at that on Monday.”
Karlsson finished 11th on the points list in 1999, but he was not made a wild-card pick by then-captain Mark James.
He was paired Saturday with present captain Woosnam.
“If you get caught up in that sort of thing six weeks before the Cup, there is a big problem,” Karlsson said.
Thunder and lightning in the area forced play to be delayed for 11/2 hours when Karlsson was on the 11th green. He marked his ball with a coin, but when he returned to the green to start play again, the coin was gone.
He had to estimate where his ball has been.
“I was definitely not nearer, I know that,” he said after two-putting for par.
Westwood also has only one bogey in three rounds. And he, too, is on the fringe of Ryder Cup qualification.
“I’m just looking for a win. I’m thinking of nothing else. One will take care of the other,” said the Englishman, who played on the last four European teams.
Woosnam had a birdie at the last hole and plans to be aggressive on Sunday.
“The guys are not going to come back to you. You have to go to them on a course like this,” Woosnam said.