Golf: Singh poised at Pebble Beach

PEBBLE BEACH - Fijian golfer Vijay Singh fired a four-under-par 68 yesterday to move into a tie for the lead with Aaron Oberholser after three rounds of the US$5.3 million ($7.85 million) Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Although the goal is to win, Singh is virtually assured of his 12th consecutive top-10 finish, a streak surpassed only by Jack Nicklaus.

Nicklaus had 14 successive finishes in the top 10 in 1977.

"A lot of people go through years and not have a top-10," said Singh, the 2003 PGA Tour money leader.

Singh is tied with Greg Norman and Tom Kite with 11 consecutive top-10 finishes.

Singh bogeyed his first two holes and had another at the ninth, offsetting two birdies on the front nine.

But he exploded with five birdies in six holes beginning at the 11th and finished at 13-under 203.

Oberholser had a bogey-free 67 on Spyglass Hill, considered the toughest of the trio of courses being used for the tournament.

Welshman Philip Price shot 69 and England's Luke Donald 72 to be in a tie for third place.

American Phil Mickelson shot a one-under 71 at Pebble Beach to move to nine-under 207.

Bill Glasson, of the US, moved into contention with a six-under 66 at Poppy Hills, creating a four-way tie at 208.

Masters champion Mike Weir, of Canada, shot a 66 and is in a three-way tie at 209.

Defending champion Davis Love missed the cut of one-under 215, as did New Zealand's Grant Waite, who slipped to 220 on the back of shooting 76 yesterday.

* Teenage prodigy Michelle Wie became the youngest golfer selected for a US Curtis Cup team when she was included in the eight-woman squad to compete in England in June.

The 14-year-old American will break the record set by Laura Baugh, who was 16 when she was selected in 1972.

The 1.83-metre Hawaiian amateur is already being hailed as the future Tiger Woods of the women's game.

- AGENCIES