Sunday, July 21, 2013

British Open: Five things to watch in the final round


Three rounds are in the books in the third major of the season, and the 142nd British Open remains up for grabs.
Lee Westwood leads Tiger Woods and Hunter Mahan by two shots entering the final round.
BRITISH OPEN: Westwood takes command
LEADERBOARD: 142nd British Open
Here are five things to look for on Sunday (ESPN has live TV coverage beginning at 6 a.m. ET):
Westwood's to win: The 40-year-old Floridian — OK, he's from England, but he moved to the USA this year to take advantage of the Sunshine State's weather and good courses — is 0-for-61 in major championships. But he has been oh-so-close: Seven top-threes since 2008. He has 24 wins on the European and PGA tours combined — "He knows how to win golf tournaments," Woods says of Westwood — and it's only a matter of time before he wins a major. In fact, he is the betting favorite among British oddsmakers. This could be the time. His big problem in the previous near-misses has been the putter; in 2010 when he led the British Open entering the final round, he struggled with the driver — found trouble on his first tee shot, made bogey and disappeared. So watch for his start, and see if he stays confident with the putter.
Tiger in contention: Woods has not played badly, but he hasn't played his best, either. He's two shots back, and his presence in anyone's rearview mirror has to be a bit unnerving. He's been stuck on 14 majors since 2008, and he's never won a major without at least a share of the lead coming into the final round — two droughts he'd like to end.
The hunter: Mahan is another top player who has never won a major, but the American has quietly put himself in position again. He will be in the final group for the second major in a row — it didn't work out at the U.S. Open, but that experience at least provided some experience.
The fast and furious: Muirfield's greens were burned out in the first rounds ... extra watering Friday night slowed them up considerably in the third round. The fairways continue to run hot, and players are having a hard time gauging just how far their balls will roll. On Saturday, for example, Charl Schwartzel drove the green on the 448-yard 15th ... 150 yards of that was roll. The forecast for Sunday is sunny and warm, so expect firm and fast conditions again.
The chase pack: Ernie Els came for six shots back to win the British Open a year ago. And as hard as the course is playing, don't expect anyone to run away with this thing. That leaves a lot of guys who can threaten. Among them: Two-time major champion Angel Cabrera (+1); straight-shooting 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson (+1), who can be dangerous if he putts the way he did in his first-round 66; Phil Mickelson (+2), a mere five shots back; even Sergio Garcia (+3) and Jason Day (+3). Buckle up.
GALLERY: SATURDAY AT THE BRITISH OPEN
Lindsey Vonn during the third round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club.
Lindsey Vonn during the third round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club.  Paul Cunningham USA TODAY Sports
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  • Lindsey Vonn during the third round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club.
  • Lindsey Vonn at the 18th green and Club House at the end of Tiger Woods round during the third round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club.
  • Jordan Spieth 2nd tee shot during the third round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club.
  • Hideki Matsuyama at the 2nd tee during the third round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club.
  • Darren Clarke putts at the 1st green during the third round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club.
  • Adam Scott putts at the 1st green during the third round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club.
  • Jordan Spieth putts at the 1st green during the third round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club.
  • Tiger Woods tees off on the fifth and gives it his best Michael Jordan effort.
  • Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez plays a shot out of a bunker.
  • Tiger Woods tees off on the 7th
  • Rafael Cabrera-Bello of Spain reacts on the 7th
  • Tiger Woods reacts on the 5th fairway during the third round of the 142nd Open Championship at Muirfield.
  • Tiger Woods launches a shot on No. 3 at Muirfield.
  • Tiger Woods watches his drive
  • Scotland's Martin Laird tees off on the first hole.
  • Lee Westwood plays a shot off the third tee.
  • Zach Johnson tees off on No. 5.
  • Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain lines up a putt on the 2nd during the third round of the 142nd Open Championship at Muirfield.
  • Tiger Woods hits a shot during the third round of the 142nd Open Championship.
  • Phil Mickelson hits a tee shot at the 2nd hole during the third round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club.
  • Bubba Watson at the 1st green during the third round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club.
  • Ian Poulter putts at the 1st green during the third round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club.
  • Justin Leonard putts at the 1st green during the third round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club.
  • Phil Mickelson putts at the 1st green during the third round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club.
  • July 20, 2013; Gullane, United Kingdom; Webb Simpson lines up a putt at the 1st green during the third round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Paul Cunningham-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-133814 ORIG FILE ID: 20130720_ajl_ai6_023.JPG
  • Phil Mickelson checks his yardage book on the second tee box.
  • Northern Ireland's Clarke Darren lines a putt on the second green.
  • Francesco Molinari putt at the 1st green during the third round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club.
  • Webb Simpson during the third round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club.
  • Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez acknowledges the crowd.
  • Miguel Angel Jimenez watches his drive from the first tee.
  • Phil Mickelson tees off on the 4th during the third round.
  • Shiv Kapur of India gets a ride back to the 6th green.
  • Phil Mickelson blasts out of the bunker.
  • Tiger Woods watches his drive from the first tee.
  • Tiger Woods waits to tee off on the 1st during the third round of the British Open.
  • Hunter Mahan tees off on the third hole.
  • GULLANE, SCOTLAND - JULY 20: Kevin Streelman of the United States hits a shot from the rough on the 6th hole during the third round of the 142nd Open Championship at Muirfield on July 20, 2013 in Gullane, Scotland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 160072933 ORIG FILE ID: 174095625
  • Brandt Snedeker eats a sandwich on the 10th hole.
  • Spectators wear tiger costumes at the third round of the British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield.
  • A golf fan holds out a pen and a cap to be signed by golfers.
  • Phil Mickelson watches his practice shot prior to round 3.
  • Scotland's Sandy Lyle walks across the fourth green.
  • Germany's Martin Kaymer lines up a putt on the second green.
  • England's amateur golfer Matthew Fitzpatrick tees off on the 10th hole.
  • US golfer Bill Haas climbs up steps as he heads to practice during the third round of the 2013 British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield.
  • The scoreboard near the third hole at Muirfield.
  • Sergio Garcia of Spain tees off on No. 2 at Muirfield.
  • Sergio Garcia of Spain smiles alongside Padraig Harrington of Republic of Ireland during the third round of the 142nd Open Championship at Muirfield.
  • Padraig Harrington tees off on the 5th hole.
  • Spectators cross the 10th fairway.
  • Ernie Els of South Africa tees off on the 5th hole.
  • KT Kim of Korea plays a shot off the 10th tee.
  • South Africa's Ernie Els tees off on the third hole during the third round of the 2013 British Open Golf Championship.
  • An early spectator sits on the side of the 18th green.
  • Shingo Katayama of Japan reacts after putting on the 13th green
  • Shingo Katayama of Japan reacts after putting on the 14th green and falls back into the bunker during the third round of the British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield,
  • KJ Choi of Korea prepares to play off the 10th tee with his caddie Alistair Matheson.
  • KJ Choi of Korea plays a shot off the 10th tee.
  • Josh Teater tees off.
  • Former British Open winner Paul Lawrie tees off on the 3rd hole at Muirfield.
  • Paul Lawrie hits an approach shot on the second hole of Muirfield.
  • Darren Clarke, the 2011 Open winner, gets ready to tee off in the third round.
Final round tee times (times Eastern)
2 a.m. — Shiv Kapur, India; Sandy Lyle, Scotland
2:10 a.m. — Kevin Streelman, United States; Bo Van Pelt, United States
2:20 a.m. — K.T. Kim, South Korea; Mikko Ilonen, Finland
2:30 a.m. — Ben Curtis, United States; Padraig Harrington, Ireland
2:40 a.m. — Oliver Fisher, England; Jason Dufner, United States
2:50 a.m. — Chris Wood, England; Graham DeLaet, Canada
3 a.m. — Tim Clark, South Africa; Russell Henley, United States
3:10 a.m. — Josh Teater, United States; a-Jimmy Mullen, England
3:20 a.m. — Gareth Wright, Wales; Marcus Fraser, Australia
3:35 a.m. — Stewart Cink, United States; Shane Lowry, Ireland
3:45 a.m. — Peter Senior, Australia; Jonas Blixt, Sweden
3:55 a.m. — Martin Laird, Scotland; Mark O'Meara, United States
4:05 a.m. — Branden Grace, South Africa; Stephen Gallacher, Scotland
4:15 a.m. — Freddie Jacobson, Sweden; George Coetzee, South Africa
4:25 a.m. — a-Matthew Fitzpatrick, England; Fred Couples, United States
4:35 a.m. — Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, Spain; Richie Ramsay, Scotland
4:45 a.m. — Geoff Ogilvy, Australia; Mark Brown, New Zealand
4:55 a.m. — Eduardo de la Riva, Spain; Y.E. Yang, South Korea
5:10 a.m. — Boo Weekley, United States; Thongchai Jaidee, Thailand
5:20 a.m. — K.J. Choi, South Korea; Webb Simpson, United States
5:30 a.m. — Bubba Watson, United States; Tom Lehman, United States
5:40 a.m. — Harris English, United States; Bernd Wiesberger, Austria
5:50 a.m. — Gregory Bourdy, France; Ken Duke, United States
6 a.m. — Steven Tiley, England; Bud Cauley, United States
6:10 a.m. — Paul Lawrie, Scotland; Todd Hamilton, United States
6:20 a.m. — Carl Pettersson, Sweden; Jordan Spieth, United States
6:35 a.m. — Darren Clarke, Northern Ireland; Charl Schwartzel, South Africa
6:45 a.m. — Graeme McDowell, Northern Ireland; Daniel Willett, England
6:55 a.m. — Matt Kuchar, United States; Thomas Bjorn, Denmark
7:05 a.m. — Keegan Bradley, United States; Shingo Katayama, Japan
7:15 a.m. — Ian Poulter, England; Justin Leonard, United States
7:25 a.m. — Johnson Wagner, United States; Martin Kaymer, Germany
7:35 a.m. — Ernie Els, South Africa; Richard Sterne, South Africa
7:45 a.m. — Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Spain; Miguel Angel Jimenez, Spain
8 a.m. — Dustin Johnson, United States; Jason Day, Australia
8:10 a.m. — Hideki Matsuyama, Japan; Jamie Donaldson, Wales
8:20 a.m. — Brandt Snedeker, United States; Sergio Garcia, Spain
8:30 a.m. — Francesco Molinari, Italy; Phil Mickelson, United States
8:40 a.m. — Henrik Stenson, Sweden; Zach Johnson, United States
8:50 a.m. — Angel Cabrera, Argentina; Ryan Moore, United States
9 a.m. — Adam Scott, Australia; Tiger Woods, United States
9:10 a.m. — Hunter Mahan, United States; Lee Westwood, England
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