The Viking and the Matador Tied at Top of Volvo Masters
01/11/08
With approximately a round-and-a-half of the final Volvo Masters remaining, a fascinating clash of cultures is on the card as Danish Viking Søren Kjeldsen and Spanish Matador Sergio García are locked together on five-under par. But much can still happen at the business end of both the Volvo Masters and the 2008 European Tour Order of Merit.
Almost back on schedule following the loss of most of Friday’s play, all 56 players in the final Volvo Masters have now completed their second rounds, with 38 still in various stages of their third and penultimate rounds of the €4.25million end-of-season showpiece.
As rain halted play late in the day, the top of the leaderboard looked much as it had done at lunchtime as second rounds were completed; Dane Søren Kjeldsen and Spain’s Sergio García are locked together on five-under-par, the Spaniard seven holes into his third round, his Danish rival one hole behind.
“It was really, really tough out there,” said Kjeldsen, adding, “I hit some bad shots and got away with them, so maybe the Gods are looking down on me.”
García sped off for a hot bath and an early night before arguably the most important day of his golfing career to date; having finished runner-up in the Volvo Masters three times, he is surely due a victory in the biggest tournament on Spanish soil.
Englishman Lee Westwood manoeuvred himself into contention for both the Volvo Masters and the European Tour Order of Merit that might accompany it but he is concentrating on the job in hand.
“I can’t influence the play of the other guys in the Order of Merit, but I can control to some extent whether I win the Volvo Masters, so all my efforts will be going into that on the final day,” he said.
Meanwhile, one of the other Order of Merit favourites, triple ‘Major’ champion Padraig Harrington blazed to the third round turn in 32, three-under-par and looks ominous at two-over, seven behind the lead.
“I played well, but I left a couple out there,” said the popular Irishman, adding, “I don’t especially like playing in the rain but I’m a battler and will fight all the way to the end.”
Far from out of it either are Englishman Anthony Wall on three-under, resurgent Frenchman Thomas Level on two-under, young German star Martin Kaymer who is joined on one-under-par by 1998 Volvo Masters champion Darren Clarke.
Weather permitting, play will recommence at 08.30hrs on Sunday 2nd November with the third and penultimate round being completed ahead of the crucial final round of the final Volvo Masters.
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