Harrington tied for lead, Faldo on leaders' heels

Nick Faldo, without a solo victory since March 1997, will go into the final round of the Omega Hong Kong Open tomorrow just one shot off the lead.

The 47-year-old six-time major winner sank birdie putts of over 20 feet on the last two greens today for a third-round 65.

At nine under par he is now on the heels of pre-tournament favourites Padraig Harrington and Miguel Angel Jimenez and also South African James Kingston, who was only one away from the course record with his dazzling 62.

Almost incredibly, Faldo has not had a lower score on the European tour since a closing 64 in the 1994 Open championship at Turnberry.

He was seven strokes behind at the start of the day, but Jimenez, leader by two from David Howell, managed only a one-over 71 and Howell needed two birdies in the last five holes for a 70.

Harrington, winner of the title last year and a Ryder Cup teammate of Jimenez and Howell in September, of course, closed with a 20-foot birdie putt for a 67 after beginning the round four adrift.

Seven players are separated by only one, Faldo and Howell being joined in joint fourth place by Dane Thomas Bjorn (65) and Thailand’s Thammanoon Srirot (66).

“That was very, very nice,” said Faldo, who came back from an opening bogey to collect seven birdies.

It was only last Wednesday the former world number one, now down at 165th in the rankings, said he felt he might have a chance to win a fourth Open at St Andrews next July.

He would love to be made Ryder Cup captain for the match at the K Club in 2006, but is still keen to achieve on the course and since the end of August has lost over a stone.

That has come about through a combination of exercising and the South Beach Diet developed by American cardiologist Dr Arthur Agatston and used as well, it is rumoured, by Bill and Hillary Clinton.

“I’ve cut out all the naughty stuff so I can get a more consistent sugar level throughout the day rather than going up and down,” Faldo explained.

“No more fried stuff and I’m allowed only one desert a week as a treat. I also know the fruits I’m meant to eat now. I got advice from my good old doctor. He said I needed to loose a few and it’s worked. I was tired by 8.30 in the evening before – carrying 15 pounds less is a significant amount.

“This is a great opportunity to test what I’ve been doing and could be a big boost for me. I’ve come with a game plan and that’s the important thing. I’ve been working on some fundamentals of the swing, putting and all areas and am trying to find out what works and stick with it.

“There’s no reason I can’t win and that’s the goal. I want to be competitive still – if I can’t play I’m not going to play. After coming fourth in the PGA at Wentworth and then qualifying for the US Open it was a disappointing summer. But it’s in there and I just need a bit more discipline.”