Forsyth's saga takes turn for the better

Scotland’s Alastair Forsyth was simply glad there was no halfway cut after an opening 76 but he now goes into the final round of the Mercedes-Benz Championship just one shot off the lead.

Forsyth was 15 shots adrift on Thursday evening but then parted company with his caddie, shot 67 in the second round and today equalled the lowest round of his career with a brilliant 62.

That lifted the 31-year-old from Glasgow from a share of 42nd place to third on 11 under par, one behind Danish pair Thomas Bjorn and Soren Hansen.

Lee Westwood, 11 under after an opening 61 but struggling with a heavy cold, is a shot further back on 10 under alongside compatriot Simon Khan and Australian Richard Green.

It is understood caddie Martin Gray had effectively “sacked” Forsyth, who admitted: “It had been coming, these things run their course.

“We spoke about it on Thursday night and thought we would call it a day on Sunday but I preferred to make a clean break of it and got a new caddie for Friday.”

Ten shots off the pace overnight, Forsyth stormed to the turn in 31 and, after his sole bogey of the day on the 10th, carded four more birdies and an eagle for a matching inward half of 31.

“I was just happy there wasn’t a cut after the opening day and then I played better yesterday and today was great,” added Forsyth, winner of the Malaysian Open in 2002 but without a single top-three finish in the last two seasons.

“It was one of those days where I gave myself lots of chances and took pretty much of all them.”

Those chances included an eagle from 35ft on the 13th and a par save from 15ft on the 16th after duffing a chip, and Forsyth admitted he had enjoyed the odd lucky break.

“On the 14th I hit my second shot well right but it took a couple of lucky bounces down to three feet for a birdie,” added Forsyth, like Open champion Padraig Harrington a pupil of veteran coach Bob Torrance.

“But apart from that I did keep hitting it close and putted a lot better – my putting has been pretty poor this year.”

Bjorn carded a flawless 66 and was surprised with his own form after playing just once in the last seven weeks.

“I’ve never had a summer holiday since I was 14 and now with three kids I really wanted to spend some time with them,” explained the 36-year-old.

“I was working very hard but things were going nowhere and it was nice to take some time out when the kids were out of school.

“I’m at a crossroads in my career. I’ve made a conscious decision about how I want to swing the club and play the game but I have no goals whatsoever.

“I just want to play some golf and enjoy myself and this is a huge step forward. I haven’t had many rounds in the 60s and you’re not going to compete in tournaments if you don’t shoot low.”

Hansen led by as many as three shots during the third round but bogeyed the last three holes, and was fortunate to escape with a five at the last after driving into water and almost hitting his third into it as well.

“Soren is a huge talent,” Bjorn added. “He has sorted his putting out this summer, which was always the weak part of his game. I’ve always pushed him harder and harder to make him realise how big a talent he is.

“All he needs to do is win another tournament. I hope tomorrow it’s me winning, but if not me, then Soren.”

Bjorn could snatch a place in the European side for the Seve Trophy with victory tomorrow, or at least put himself in prime position for a wild card from captain Seve Ballesteros, but added: “I haven’t heard anything about that.

“At the moment I’m going to Ian Poulter’s wedding and I wouldn’t miss that for the world.”

Westwood looked out of contention after a double bogey on the seventh but eagled the 13th and birdied the 15th to get back into the frame, only to then bogey two of the last three holes.

The 34-year-old felt too ill to comment on his round afterwards, saying only: “I’m going to straight to bed.”