Rose extends lead in Pennsylvania

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July 4, 2010

Justin Rose has moved four shots clear the AT&T National thanks to a sparkling third-round 67.

Justin Rose will head into the final round of the AT&T National with a four-shot lead after posting a third successive sub-70 score in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
The Englishman, who followed up his opening 69 at the Aronimink Golf Club with a stunning six-under-par 64 on Friday, ground out a crucial, three-under par 67 in his third round to stretch his one-stroke overnight advantage.
Rose dropped only one shot – at the par-three 14th – and finished the day 10 under overall to sit four shots ahead of Sweden’s Carl Pettersson (65) and South Korea’s Charlie Wi (70).
American Jeff Overton was a stroke back after a 69 with compatriot Ryan Moore and Australia’s Jason Day a further shot adrift in a tie for fifth.
Rose said: “I thought today was a really good round of golf in a lot of ways but more so how I felt out there.
“I really enjoyed the round.
“I obviously played solid for the most part. When I was in trouble, my short game really pulled me through. There were a couple times on the back nine I kept the momentum going.
“I thought the key moment of the day actually was a bogey I made on 14. I probably hit the wrong club there and I was in a wicked lie, long left.
“I tried to actually play safe to get it on the green, couldn’t even hit the green and then got an even worse lie, managed to chop it to four feet and made the putt.
“That was probably the only little bit of emotion I showed all day with a fist pump, but it was for bogey.
“It was a good day. I really enjoyed the golf course again, and I think that’s going to be my mindset for tomorrow – just to keep enjoying this place.”
The 29-year-old held a three-shot lead going into the final round at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut last week but closed with a five-over 75 to see his hopes of second PGA Tour victory dashed.
“I think every week you’re facing new challenges, new golf courses. That’s what I’m enjoying at the moment,” said Rose, who finally broke his PGA Tour duck in early June by triumphing at the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village in Ohio.
“And I think what I’m doing well, which is what’s putting me in this position, is I’m not carrying any baggage over from one week to the next.
“I didn’t go into Hartford (last week) thinking, you just won, keep it going.
“And I didn’t come into this week thinking, you’ve just blown a win.
“I’m just coming into each week seeing it as a new challenge and starting from hole one of the tournament.”
“Although I’m on a great run, I’m not carrying that run with me mentally week to week.
“I’m quite into the challenge of each individual week at the moment, which is a nice mindset.”
Tiger Woods fell further off the pace with a second straight par round of 70 and will tee off on Sunday 13 shots behind Rose.
The world number one was at least able to take positives, though, from how he responded after dropping three shots in his first six holes.
“I got off to just an awful start today,” he said. “I mean, it was probably the worst start you could possibly get off to. I kept making mistake after mistake.
“But I turned it around there starting at eight, hit a nice shot in there. From then on I hit some really good shots.
“I hit a couple bad drives, but a lot of good iron shots coming in.
“I actually thought every putt I hit coming in I hit on my line with the right pace, and that’s something I hadn’t done yet this week.”