Lee Westwood makes late run as winds rise at US Open

Published on Monday 21 June 2010 00:32

LEE Westwood was making a late run up the US Open leaderboard as the leaders prepared for their final rounds in California.

England's world number three, striving for his first under-par round of the week at Pebble Beach Golf Links having come into the second major of the year with great expectations, was three-under for his round as he turned for home.

Three birdies in a row, at holes four, five and six, brought Westwood to five over par, still 11 strokes behind overnight leader Dustin Johnson of the United States but with the tournament frontrunners set to tee off just as the wind off the Pacific Ocean was forecast to pick up considerably.

Johnson was getting ready to rejoin battle with halfway leader Graeme McDowell for the second day in a row, having outscored the Northern Irishman by five shots in the third round to take a three-shot lead at six-under

And Tiger Woods was set to launch his bid for a 15th major from five strokes back off the lead having shot a five-under-par 66 on Saturday to reach one-under par.

The world number one, who won the 2000 US Open on its last visit to Pebble Beach by a majors record 15 strokes, had been paired with Frenchman and championship debutant Gregory Havret, who was set to begin at level par.

Also at even par was two-time champion Ernie Els of South Africa, with world number two and Masters champion Phil Mickelson one over par and Alex Cejka, Tim Clark and Ryo Ishikawa next in line at three over.

Westwood was not the only one making the most of the more favourable early conditions as first-round co-leader Shaun Micheel double-eagled the par-five sixth after holing out with a three iron from 239 yards.

The sixth was playing as the easiest hole on the famous course with sectional qualifier Jim Herman and former USPGA champion David Toms of the United States and Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee all carding eagles on the ocean-lined elevated green.

Jaidee, well out of contention, had also aced the par-three fifth during Saturday's third round while Herman and fellow American Bo Van Pelt had the low rounds of the day so far after posting three-under 68s.

Spain's Pablo Martin made an early impression as the final round got under way. The back marker from Malaga, who made his professional debut at the 2007 US Open at Oakmont, began the day at 19 over par, 25 shots behind overnight leader Johnson, and finished it eight strokes worse off after a 79 sent him back to 27 over.

It was not Martin's score that had fans on the 18th green cheering his name, however, but his speed of play. As the gallery chanted: "Pablo! Pablo!", the clock had stopped on the 24-year-old's round at two hours and 39 minutes.

The Spaniard, who had a successful college golf career at Oklahoma State University, had been playing alone but that did not detract from his enjoyment.

"The US Open is the best atmosphere I've seen in any other tournament I've played in," Martin said. "This is exactly the way golf should be right now. It is so much fun for us and for the crowd.

"Me and my caddie, it was a nice walk, checking the course. Pretty cool. It's so nice over here in Pebble Beach. I'm happy we can get to play for free.

"It's the first time to play Pebble Beach. It was a fun week even though I played poorly. Sometimes, it goes that way and sometimes, it goes the other way.

" Martin was not the only player having fun on the last morning of play. Sectional qualifier Herman, playing in the second group of the day, carded two eagles on his way to a three-under 68.

Herman's opening two-below-par score came at the 325-yard fourth where he putted from five feet for a two and he followed it with a three at the 523-yard sixth after sending in a three iron from 230 yards to four feet. The 32-year-old American finished at 14 over on his US Open debut.