Twinkle in Faldo's eye as he leads in Melbourne

Published on Sunday 2 February 2003 00:00

NICK Faldo treated fans at Royal Melbourne to a vintage performance as he toasted the start of a "very nice, happy", future by taking the lead at the Heineken Classic.

The six-times major champion proved that he is still a force to be reckoned with as he leapfrogged the young pretenders with a faultless display to top the leaderboard on 11 under par.

Yesterday, the day after revealing that his wife Valerie is expecting their first baby, Faldo put it all together to shoot a faultless, seven-under-par round of 65.

"There is no baggage. I got some very nice news, Miss V and I are very excited. It is going to be the start of a very happy home life. For me, at my age, that was 11 out of 10. All my intentions were there. My commitment was really good. It was the best I’ve committed to what I was trying to do for a long time.

"If I pursue the next 18 holes with the same good thought and good decision-making that would do me for the rest of my career. I couldn’t do any better than I did today."

Faldo hit form just as halfway leader Paul Casey lost the consistency that had seen him head the field since Thursday.

The 25-year-old dropped back to 10 under par and sat tied for second with Sweden’s Niclas Fasth and Australian Peter Lonard.

Nevertheless, English players still dominated the upper reaches of the leaderboard, with David Lynn and Steve Webster on nine under, while Brian Davis and Ian Poulter sat in the pack on seven under, one shot behind a rejuvenated Ernie Els.

The pre-tournament favourite had struggled with his rhythm over the opening rounds, but it clicked on Saturday and he worked a 66 to finish tied on eight under with New Zealand’s David Smail.

Trinidadian Stephen Ames continued his sizzling play in the California desert with an eight-under-par 64 at La Quinta to grab a share of the lead with Tim Herron after the third round of the Bob Hope Classic.

Herron joined Steve Lowery and David Gossett as the three players to post scores of 10-under 62.

Ames, 38, completed 54 holes of the 90-hole celebrity-filled event at 22-under 194.

Jay Haas, who is eligible to play on the 50-and-older Champions Tour next season, carded a five-under 67 at Indian Wells and is alone in third place on 195.

Golf’s elder circuit may have a new title, but the name at the top remains the same.

Hale Irwin fired a six-under-par 66 to claim a share of the lead after the first round of the season-opening MasterCard Championship in Hawaii.

Irwin shares the top spot with Tour iron man Dana Quigley and Steve Veriato.