Hansen bounces back to share lead

There were times in 2003 that Anders Hansen came close to giving up the game he loves.

Frustrated with the lack of progress with his game, Hansen took two months off to try and rediscover his love of the game and today he did.

Hansen carded a third round 68 in some of the toughest wind that the Erinvale Golf Club has seen to take a share of the lead into Sunday’s final round of the South African Airways Open.

Hansen shares the lead on nine under par with South African Craig Lile, who also battled the elements to post a 70.

England’s Steve Webster is a shot behind after an impressive 67 while defending champion Trevor Immelman shot a 69 to join Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin in fourth place, two shots off the pace.

After his breakthrough win in the Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth in 2002, Hansen’s game was blown off course to such an extent that he could not remember why he loved it in the beginning.

But with the help of “an old friend“, whom he did not want to name, Hansen has found his way back and admitted he was surprised at his form.

“I just came down here hoping to get a few rounds and hopefully make the cut,” Hansen said. “I just wanted to get some grass under my feet.

“Last year was a tough year for me, I really didn’t have a good year so I decided to take some time off and work on my physical training.

“I was very fed up. I wasn’t enjoying my game at all. My interest in the game basically went away – I was a bit surprised last year that I made the Volvo Masters to begin with and I played quite well there.

“It’s quite a change from one year when you finish 16th in the Order of Merit and the next year your game is down and you don’t know where you are.”

Immelman was heading for an impressive 66 and the outright lead when the wind contributed to bogeys on the last three holes.

Webster believes he has a superb opportunity to finally win his first tournament after carding eight birdies in the space of 12 holes in his 67.

“I am playing well,” the Midlander said. “On a day like this to shoot a few under par, you are right back in the tournament.

“To be honest I played very well yesterday and let a few shots go in the end but I got them back today.

“You are never safe around here until you get the last few holes out of the way. But everything is good right now and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

Also enjoying the conditions after a horrific Friday was Scot Colin Montgomerie, who overcame his 78 in the second round with a 69 to move him to one under par.

England’s Justin Rose added a 68 to move to three under alongside Lee Westwood who fired a 70.