TOUR NEWS:PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON'S missed cut in the PGA Tour's Northern Trust Open – his first event of the year – has led to him dropping out of an automatic spot in Europe's Ryder Cup standings.
German Martin Kaymer’s fourth-place finish at the Dubai Desert Classic lifts him above Harrington on the world points list from which the first four members of Colin Montgomerie’s side will come.
Meanwhile, on the course in Pacific Palisades, California, a bogey at the last hole of his delayed third round will not prevent Steve Stricker from taking a dominant lead into the final round at the Northern Trust Open.
World number three Stricker resumed his third round at a rainy Riviera Country Club with four holes to play and with a five-stroke lead over fellow American JB Holmes, Argentina’s Andres Romero and England’s Luke Donald.
He quickly added two more shots to that lead with birdies at the 15th and 16th but after 32 bogey-free holes, a five at the par-four 18th left Stricker with a 66 at 15 under par, six shots clear with 18 holes to play.
Donald was leading the chase of the runaway leader, the runner-up behind Phil Mickelson 12 months ago, having carded a 66 before play was suspended for the second night in a row due to darkness.
The soggy conditions which had seen three inches of rainfall meant the Englishman had needed to play 22 holes on Saturday, completing a second-round, one-under 70 to get to four under and then turning right around to move to nine under after 18 bogey-free holes and a five-under third round.
Following Donald, Romero and Holmes in a tie for fifth on eight under were Americans George McNeill, Kevin Stadler and Dustin Johnson, the 36-hole leader, who struggled to a three-over 74 in his delayed third round.
Mickelson, bidding for a third title in a row, carded a level-par 71 to hold steady at four under.
EUROPEAN TOUR: Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez edged out European number one Lee Westwood at the third play-off hole to win the Dubai Desert Classic following a thrilling see-saw final day at the Emirates Golf Club yesterday.
Defending champion Rory McIlroy (73) produced a valiant title defence to share sixth three shots off the pace.
Jimenez appeared to be out of the title race on the first two play-off holes and saw Westwood miss two championship putts after the pair had topped the leaderboard at 11 under par, a shot clear of Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee.
The Spaniard narrowly missed the water at the first extra hole and holed out from 12 feet to keep his bid alive on the second. He then held his nerve from four feet in near darkness at the third time of asking after seeing Westwood miss from inside six feet.
The Spaniard, a two-time runner-up at this event, said: “I have been coming to Dubai for many years and had a few chances to win and now I have it, I feel very pleased and very happy.”
Jimenez has now claimed nine of his 16 European Tour titles in his 40s, and is the oldest player to win on the circuit since Mark O’Meara prevailed in Dubai in 2004 at the age of 47.
“Like a good wine, with age, I get better and better,” he said.
Asian number one Thongchai (73) was forced to settle for third after missing a two-foot birdie chance at the last, with Abu Dhabi champion Martin Kaymer (70) and Challenge Tour number one Edoardo Molinari (71) fourth at nine under par.
McIlroy shared sixth place with Alvaro Quiros (75). Graeme McDowell (75) and Gareth Maybin (72) finished eight off the lead, with Darren Clarke (73) a shot behind and Damien McGrane (72) a further three back.
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