Golf: Campbell gets the third-round stutters

HEIDELBERG - A third-round collapse by Michael Campbell has allowed Tiger Woods to close the gap in the Deutsche Bank SAP Open.

The world number one looks favourite to take the $US400,000 ($933,000) first prize after carding a spectacular third round nine-under-par 63 to end the day joint second, one shot behind Argentine Eduardo Romero, who is on 17 under.

Campbell was six strokes ahead and led Woods by 10 after finishing off his weather-disrupted second round in the morning.

But four dropped shots in five holes from the 12th, where he double-bogeyed, gave him a third-round 73 for a share of second place and allowed Romero, the player nicknamed "El Gato" (the Cat) to pounce and the Tiger to prowl.

Romero, 46, who recorded a six-birdie 66 to set the 17-under-par target, is relishing teeing up with Woods again after playing with him in the first round of the World Cup in Argentina last year and practising with him.

"Maybe tomorrow the Cat will beat the Tiger," said a relaxed Romero.

"I'm a very, very lucky man. Not many times can you play with the world number one.

"I've practised with him in America a couple of times. When I've played with him I've enjoyed every shot he plays, but I'll be trying to beat him now.

"I've been around a long time. But I'm hitting the ball better than 20 years ago, longer and more consistent.

"And I've got no more injury problems, added Romero who had to take two months off earlier this year after being bitten by one of his dogs."

Woods, though, looks to be in form after he set his third round alight with an eagle putt of 40 feet on the long fifth which rattled the back of the cup.

"Thank God it hit the hole," said Woods with a grin. "It slammed in and it would have gone at least eight feet past.

"I knew I had to shoot something at least in the mid-60s to give myself a chance. When you're 10 shots behind you just have to go out and play your own game, it's not complicated, just do the best you can."

Woods paid tribute to Romero, saying: "He hits it a long way, even at his age. He goes out and rips it. He's a fantastic competitor," added Woods.

For Campbell there was also spectacle, but of the wrong kind as he drove into bushes on the 12th, played a provisional but then found his first ball unplayable with nowhere to drop and had to play a third tee shot.

He followed up with bogeys on the 14th and 16th, where he drove into water.

Sweden's Henrik Stenson, last week's maiden Benson and Hedges International Open winner, and Peter O'Malley of Australia, shared fourth place on 202 after both equalled Woods's 63.

- REUTERS