Ogilvy opens up big lead in Hawaii

Geoff Ogilvy is poised for victory in the opening event of the PGA Tour season after firing a sizzling eight-under-par 65 yesterday to open up a six-stroke lead at the Mercedes-Benz Championship.

The Australian entered the third round with a one-stroke lead over DJ Trahan after rounds of 67 and 68 and tacked on five strokes to his cushion at the winners-only event with a bogey-free round that included eight birdies.

At 19-under 200, Ogilvy now leads Justin Leonard by six.

“I’ve never actually been this far in front before, but I’ve been this far behind a lot of times,” said Ogilvy, who got off to a good start with a birdie at the first, one of four that he made on the front nine.

He started the back nine with a birdie at the 10th and then had a run of three straight starting at the 13th.

“I played well, obviously,” Ogilvy said. “It was a different course than I’ve ever seen before. Just a gentle wind in completely the opposite direction that I’ve ever seen it. So it was different.”

Leonard also signed for a 65 and is in second at 13-under 206 along with Trahan, who shot a three-under 70.

“Played solid. Probably as well as I did yesterday, but I feel like I made a few more putts,” Leonard said. “You know, with the wind switching around a little bit, the golf course played completely different.”

Leonard also had a bogey-free round that included eight birdies, including one on the 18th but as well as he played, he still found himself well off the lead.

“I was looking at the leaderboards on the back nine, but I never saw Geoff’s section, so I didn’t know where he was,” Leonard said.

“And then when I got to 18, I saw he was at 19 under. So it was a little deflating, to say the least.”

However, Leonard is not going to let the deficit affect his play on Sunday, especially as it is the first event of a long season.

“I’m just going to go out and try and continue getting the rust off, like I have the last couple of days, and, you know, try and end the week on a good note,” he said.

Camilo Villegas, Davis Love III, Kenny Perry and Anthony Kim are at 12-under 207 with KJ Choi another stroke back.

Defending champion Daniel Chopra of Sweden signed for a six-under 67 and is in the clubhouse at four-under 215.