George Coetzee in line for second title in as many weeks at Portugal Masters

George Coetzee put himself in contention to win for the second week in a row after his eagle-birdie finish handed him a one-shot lead ahead of the final round of the Portugal Masters.
The South African began the day eight shots behind halfway leader Julien Guerrier after the Frenchman followed up his opening 62 with a brilliant 66 on Friday to head into the weekend on 14 under par.
But as Guerrier slipped back towards the rest of the field after failing to make a birdie on Saturday, Coetzee produced a marvellous 66 that contained an eagle, four birdies and a single bogey to move to 11 under and take over at the top of the leaderboard.
🇿🇦 -11 Coetzee 🇯🇵 -10 Kawamura 🇫🇷 -10 Guerrier🇸🇪 -9 Lemke🏴 -9 Canter
All to play for heading into the final round of the #PortugalMasters.
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) September 12, 2020
Guerrier and Masahiro Kawamura were Coetzee’s closest challengers on 10 under, with Niklas Lemke and England’s Laurie Canter another shot back in a tie for fourth.
Coetzee, who arrived in Portugal fresh from winning the Titleist Championship at Pretoria Country Club on the Sunshine Tour last week, reached the turn in 34 shots after sandwiching a bogey on the seventh between birdies at the fourth and eighth.
After taking advantage of the par-four 15th for the third day in a row, Coetzee came agonisingly close to holing his approach into the long 17th for an albatross but had to settle for a tap-in eagle to climb to 10 under.
And he finished off with a confident 12-foot birdie putt at the last.
Coetzee was delighted with his eagle on the 17th but admitted an albatross would have been something special.

He said: “It would have been nice. I was actually watching earlier on in the week the top 10 shots they have had at this event and I didn’t think anything of it until I saw that ball rolling and I thought ‘Ah, this could be number one!’ but in the end I’m really happy where it finished.
“I was fortunate enough to be right next to Laurie (Canter) and he hit six iron rather smooth, so it made it an easy decision for me to lift the seven iron and it ended up being the perfect club.”
World number 16 Tommy Fleetwood was five shots behind Coetzee after making four birdies in a row on his back nine to sign for a third-round 68.
Latest
-
News
Collin Morikawa takes two-stroke lead into WGC-Workday Championship final round
The American continues to shine on the biggest stages.
-
News
Tiger Woods ‘in good spirits’ after hospital move and further treatment
Woods survived what police said would otherwise have been a fatal crash because the interior of his vehicle remained largely intact.
-
News
Brooks Koepka in lead for second win in three events at WGC-Workday Championship
Koepka’s second round of 66 was marred only by a bogey on the 18th.
-
News
Tiger Woods moved to new hospital as he continues recovery from car crash
The 15-time major winner suffered multiple injuries in the accident.
-
News
Rory McIlroy makes solid start in quest for another World Golf Championship title
McIlroy carded an opening 69.
-
News
Dustin Johnson offers prayers to Tiger Woods and family
World Number one Dustin Johnson has exrtended his prayers to Tiger Woods and his family following his car accident.
-
News
Tiger Woods doesn’t need to play again to continue impacting golf – Rory McIlroy
Woods is recovering in hospital after undergoing surgery on significant injuries to his right leg in a car accident.
-
News
Tyrrell Hatton reveals he knew nothing of one of Ryder Cup’s most famous moments
The Concession Golf Club in Florida was named to mark an act of sportsmanship between Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin at Royal Birkdale in 1969.
-
News
Rory McIlroy keen to continue track record of bouncing back from missed cuts
Victory in the WGC-Workday Championship would make McIlroy the second player to have won all four WGC titles.
-
News
Tiger Woods’ health is priority right now, not his return to golf – Rory McIlroy
Woods has had surgery on significant injuries to his right leg following a single-vehicle road accident on Tuesday.