SOTOGRANDE, Spain -- Little-known Japanese Hidemichi Tanaka
put some of golf's biggest names behind him, shooting a 2-under 70
Saturday for a one-stroke lead after three rounds in the American
Express Championship.
Tanaka had joked after the second round that his goal was to get Tiger Woods' autograph.
The 29-year-old Tanaka, who's won twice on the Japan Tour this
season and is No. 3 on its money list, was 9-under overall at 207
and one shot ahead of Canadian Mike Weir (65) and American Mark
Calcavecchia (69).
Tiger Woods (69) and Nick Price (74), the leader for the first
two rounds, were two strokes off the pace in the chase for the $1
million winner's share in this season-ending tournament.
Woods, who had landed his ball in the pond guarding the green at
the par-5 17th in three straight rounds at Valderrama, reached the
putting surface in two Saturday and managed a birdie. After the
fairway shot, he took a deep bow and swept his right hand under his
waist with his cap in hand, breaking into a huge smile.
"I was able to grind myself around the golf course and get
myself in position to win the tournament," Woods said.
"I hit three good shots in a row (at 17). The balls got over
the water. They just didn't stay there."
Tanaka was not to be outdone. He hit his third shot over the
pond to a foot, then duplicated Woods' cap-in-hand bow. Cracking
into a smile, he walked down the fairway tugging on his shirt to
imitate a thumping heart.
"That's to tell everybody I'm so nervous and scared," said the
5-foot-5, 135-pound Tanaka, who had joked after Friday's second
round that his big goal was to get Woods' autograph.
"Amazing. I'm surprised to be in this position. I hope I can
play good so everybody knows my name."
Tanaka considers himself part golfer and part entertainer. He,
grew up admiring Tom Watson and picked up a few tips from
compatriot Shigeki Maruyama, who plays on the U.S. tour.
"When I arrived here Sunday I lost five pieces of my luggage --
I didn't like Spain," Tanaka said. "But today, I love Spain."
Duffy Waldorf (72) and Padraig Harrington (73) were four strokes
off the lead at 211, with England's Lee Westwood (68) heading a
group of four, five strokes behind.
Westwood took a large step toward ending Colin Montgomerie's
long reign as Europe's top player.
Montgomerie stumbled and is virtually out of it after shooting
73, leaving him 1-under at 215. He needs to win to have any chance
of claiming his eighth straight European money title.
Darren Clarke, who tops the money list and leads Westwood by
$86,000, shot a 74 and is 2-over for the three rounds.
If either Westwood or Clarke wins the first prize, he'll top the
money list. Since that seems unlikely, the scenario is as follows:
Westwood must finish in at least the top eight Sunday. Any finish
lower won't earn him enough money to overtake Clarke, no matter
what Clarke does.
Tiger Woods just wants to keep the ball in play. wav: 200 k Real: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Nick Price still feels confident of his chances this weekend in Spain. wav: 110 k Real: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6