REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
into contention for European Tour
graduation and the title at the Dubai
Festival City Challenge
Tour Grand Final hosted by Al Badia
Golf Club thanks to a four under par
third round of 68, leaving him five off
the lead in tied third.
Golf Club thanks to a four under par
third round of 68, leaving him five off
the lead in tied third.
The Glaswegian knows he needs a win
or a very high finish if he is to make an
eleventh hour climb into the Challenge
Tour Rankings' top 15 and earn a place
or a very high finish if he is to make an
eleventh hour climb into the Challenge
Tour Rankings' top 15 and earn a place
in The 2014 Race to Dubai.
With so much at stake, McArthur decided to take a more aggressive
approach midway through the day after a slow start and it paid
dividends as he soared to a five under par back nine including a run of three birdies in a row from the 12th and followed by a
back-to-back birdie finish.
"I knew I needed something low," said the 34 year old. "I think
I need to finish third on my own to have a chance so obviously I
need to keep trying to make birdies.
"I got off to a dodgy start and then played decent after that.
Halfway through the back nine yesterday and at the start today I
didn't feel like I was swinging it well but then I hit a good shot at
eight and played nicely after that.
"I was being defensive on the front nine and playing away from pins
because I didn't feel like I was swinging it well. I was just being
overcautious, then I hit one good shot and continued that.
"I don't know if I was thinking about it too much at the start today
but I wasn't hitting good shots.
"It will be very exciting tomorrow. I know what I need to do so I
just have to see if I can do it. There will obviously be a bit of
pressure but I need to focus on the shots and not the situation, that's
the key, but it's easier said than done.
"I have always looked at leaderboards. I honestly think that people
who say they don't look at leaderboards kid themselves. I'll see
what I can do. Hopefully I can get off to a quick start and try get in
the mix.
"At the end of the day you want to win the tournament but
obviously there's a secondary thing for me there. But if I try
and win the tournament I've got a better chance of making my
card so that will be the goal."
Meanwhile, Shiv Kapur is on course for a second European
Challenge Tour title and a return to The European Tour after the
Indian roared into a four shot lead in a thrilling third day.
Incredibly, the 31 year old was four shots off the lead stepping on to
the eighth tee after two early bogeys left him two over for the day,
but an eagle at the easy par five paired with a double bogey for his
playing partner and leader Andrea Pavan turned the tournament on
its head.
Suddenly, the momentum was with Kapur and he took full
advantage, carding three birdies on the way back including one at
the last to sign for a five under par 67 and move four clear of the
field on 14 under par.
The New Delhi man, however, will have no room for error as
Dutchman Wil Besseling is in second place knowing only a win will
be enough to secure his path to The European Tour.
A shot further back alongside McArthur at nine under par is
compatriot Jamie McLeary, who also needs a strong finish in Dubai
to have any chance of making the top 15.
THIRD ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
202 S Kapur (Ind) 69 66 67
206 W Besseling (Ned) 70 68 68
207 J McLeary (Sco) 68 70 69, A Pavan (Ita) 66 66 75, A McArthur (Sco) 70 69 68, J Lima (Por) 70 66 71
208 S Manley (Wal) 73 67 68, R Davies (Wal) 69 69 70,
209 T Nørret (Den) 71 69 69, O Wilson (Eng) 71 67 71, J Guerrier (Fra) 69 69 71
210 B Paolini (USA) 66 77 67, T Hatton (Eng) 69 67 74, J Carlsson (Swe) 68 70 72
211 S Tiley (Eng) 73 65 73, J Huldahl (Den) 73 72 66, J Elson (Eng) 72 71 68
212 J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 71 70 71, A Gee (Eng) 73 69 70, N Lemke (Swe) 70 73 69
213 N Elvira (Esp) 70 68 75, E Dubois (Fra) 68 72 73
215 P Archer (Eng) 74 72 69, J Fahrbring (Swe) 73 71 71, B An (SKor) 74 71 70, R Kakko (Fin) 73 71 71
216 S Kim (Kor) 73 69 74, T Sluiter (Ned) 70 71 75, D Stewart (Sco) 72 68 76, B Ritthammer (Ger) 74 69 73
217 A Otaegui (Esp) 69 78 70, R Dinwiddie (Eng) 76 72 69, S Walker (Eng) 77 68 72, L Bjerregaard (Den) 73 77 67
219 D Gaunt (Aus) 72 72 75, L Kennedy (Eng) 68 78 73, D Frittelli (RSA) 72 76 71, J Dantorp (Swe) 70 73 76
220 M Crespi (Ita) 73 73 74
221 A Domingo (Esp) 77 74 70, D Huizing (Ned) 76 73 72
222 D Im (USA) 74 76 72
223 V Riu (Fra) 72 72 79
225 F Calmels (Fra) 72 78 75
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
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