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IT'S A HAT TRICK
WGC Amex Championship - Day 4 - Tiger Woods completed his hat trick with a brilliant eagle on the 18th hole, his third in three days. An eagle which enabled him to finish on 19 under par and with a lead of six shots, an improvement of one, which until late in the round looked most unlikely.

Tiger began the day in very quiet fashion, the overnight rain meant that the greens were a little slower, and playing with Jim Furyk, it was the 5th hole before there was a birdie in the match, and then it was for Furyk. The pins had been set in much more difficult positions for the third day, and it reflected in the scoring.

Tiger had several chances, which he failed to convert, then he dropped a shot at the 8th hole, the gap was narrowing, and there was a glimmer of hope for the rest of the field. However, a birdie at the 9th allowed him to turn level and still two shots clear.

The rest of the field made brief challenges, David Howell got close, three under thro ten, but then faded away to finish level par. It was left to Adam Scott to make an impact with a six under par 65, without birdying the last hole, to post a score that looked a danger until the last few holes.

It has been said so often, when they get close, he changes gear, and so it was for the third day, a birdie on the 12th, another on the 15th, and the maestro was back in command. After his eagles on the first two days, the 18th tee was a welcome sight for Tiger. After a few practice swings, he hit his driver, and it flew left into the semi rough, much to his annoyance. The lie was fine, and he had no trouble hitting the green on the hole that most had failed to reach.

He was left with a monster putt, but as so often, he set himself, and drained the putt to the roar of the gallery. Another eagle to match the two already in the bag from the first two days. That was the final nail in the coffin, a 67 for the day, and a three round total of 194, nineteen under par and a six shot lead, little opportunity left for the rest of the field.

Second place Adam Scott said that no-one could afford to give Tiger a start, and with the margin at six shots, it will need a calamity from Tiger and a brilliant eighteen holes for any of the close challengers.

Sharing third place behind Adam Scott are Brett Quigley and Stewart Cink, both Americans had steady rounds, but missed chances to close the margin, which by the end had become a yawning gap. Tiger was heading for his next WGC crown.

Of the European players, Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson made progress, but David Howell and Padraig Harrington had a level par rounds to fall back. It will be a battle for the prize money on the last day, when the start has been brought forward to avoid the threatened bad weather later in the day. They will tee off in threes, from the tenth and the first holes starting at 9.00am.

Mike Rees on 2006-10-01