Schwartzel in the driver's seat

Unstoppable Charl Schwartzel remained on course for his first title in 20 months after carding a third-round 68 to take a five-stroke lead in the US$1 million Thailand Golf Championship at the Amata Spring Country Club yesterday.

The week’s biggest crowd of 5,036 spectators defied the highly humid conditions to witness the star-studded event which is being dominated by the 28-year-old South African, who shot a three day total of 18-under 198, five ahead of Sweden’s Daniel Chopra.

“I was pretty solid. I hit one or two bad wayward tee shots. I felt today was extremely warm. I sweated a lot and my hands were slipping when I hit a few shots,” said Schwartzel, who despite his first bogey of the week at the ninth hole, shot three birdies and an eagle on the 11th hole. He will enter the final round with his sights firmly fixed on winning his first title since the 2011 Masters.

“I feel comfortable playing this golf course. The biggest key is just to feel comfortable in whatever you do. If that means being aggressive, then be aggressive. When I was hitting irons off the tees and a few drivers, I felt very comfortable. I wouldn’t change my approach tomorrow. This is a game of patience. If it’s my time, then it’s my time. I will just keep playing my way. I’m playing nicely and just want to keep it that way and see where that leaves me,” last year’s first runner-up said. Chopra, who started the round four strokes off the lead, suffered a double bogey on the fifth hole but fired five birdies on the first, sixth, ninth, 11th and 15th holes for a 69 and a total 13-under-par-203.

“I played fairly well. I had a couple of loose shots but nothing was really too bad. I’m five behind. Obviously my goal is to go out there and try to make it uncomfortable for Charl. Nobody wants to see him run away with it. I want to do my best to make it close down the stretch,” said the half Swede, half Indian.

Local hope Thitiphun Chuayprakong, who resumed his second round yesterday morning by sinking one of the last two holes for a birdie for 67 and a halfway stage score of 11-under, carded a 71 and a total 204 for lone third place.

 “Despite the worst score in the last three days, I felt most satisfied today because I could control my nerves under some tough situations. I think I handled it quite well playing alongside a star player like Schwartzel in the lead group,” said the 20-year-old Thitiphun, who after two error-free rounds made four bogeys including one on the signature floating 17th hole where he missed an easy three-foot par putt.

 “I thought I would be under pressure but I felt comfortable from the first tee-off. I still believe six strokes behind is not too far to catch up with Schwartzel. There are still ways to win if I can follow my game plan,” added the local hope, who is looking forward to bettering his previous best finishes of being third twice in Jakarta last year and Macau this year. 

The amiable Thai, whose nickname is “Toh Teh” (too relaxed), said he had to consult his mental coach via mobile to help him with breathing techniques to keep his calm.

Following two strokes behind at lone fourth was Spaniard Sergio Garcia, who carded a 68 for a total of 206. Australian Scott Hend, with a 207, was at fifth, followed by Japan’s Masanori Kobayashi.

“Bashful Prince” Ryo Ishikawa, who played alongside compatriot Kobayashi and Garcia, drew more than 400 followers, most of them Japanese, was up and down all day before settling with a 73 and a total of 209. He took the joint seventh position tied by Thai veteran Thaworn Wiratchant, South Korean Park Hyun-bin, Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium, South African Jbe Kruger, Indian Anibarn Lahiri, American Bubba Watson and Briton Lee Westwood.

Channel 9 will broadcast today’s final round live from 1.30pm onwards.