English pair feel the heat

Luke Donald and under-fire Paul Casey were pressed first by America and then by Spain at the World Cup in Seville today.

Five clear overnight, the English pair managed “only” an outward 33 in the third-round fourballs.

And while they moved from 19 under par to 22 under pre-tournament favourites Sergio Garcia and Miguel Angel Jimenez advanced from 13 under to 20 under in the first 11 holes.

Garcia did most of the damage, producing three birdies and an eagle on the long fifth to add to Jimenez’s birdies at the fourth and 11th.

The last of Garcia’s birdies on the 422-yard 10th – he pitched to within two feet of the flag there – took the Spanish ahead of Americans Scott Verplank and Bob Tway, who had their first bogey of the day on the hole.

In a brilliant front-nine 30 Tway had five birdies and Verplank one to set up the possibility of a final-round clash between themselves and England.

And in view of Verplank’s response to Casey’s criticisms of Americans such a head-to-head was bound to have an extra edge to it.

On his arrival Verplank was inevitably questioned about Casey’s comment following the Ryder Cup in September that “we properly hate them.”

“I don’t think anybody would miss him if he went back to England,” he replied when told that Casey, whose contract with ball and club sponsor Titleist is now not to be renewed in the New Year over the row, was planning more events in the States.

“I wouldn’t think that would be the smartest thing to do if you’re going to stay over in the United States. The temperature around him might cool off a little bit.

“I mean, how can you say derogatory things towards a group of people and generalise them all and not expect to have some guys not take it personally?”

Donald opened with an 18-foot birdie putt this morning and Casey found the target from 35 feet on the fourth, but they were the duo’s only gains until Donald pitched to five feet on the long ninth.

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley were six strokes back after an outward 32 was followed by a bogey on the 422-yard 10th. But they birdied the 12th to climb back into a tie for fifth spot.

Welsh pair Phillip Price and Bradley Dredge were alongside them and enjoying a superb day. Out in 31 they added further birdies at the 12th and 13th.

Scots Alastair Forsyth and Scott Drummond were down in 15th place of the 24 nations with four to play.