ATLANTA (Georgia), Nov 3: Vijay Singh shot a five-under-par 65 Saturday to outshine Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson at the elite Tour Championship.
With a nine-under total of 201 Singh, twice a major champion, overtook second-round leader Charles Howell III by three strokes at the East Lake Golf Club. Howell hit a 69.
Woods and Mickelson were a further two shots back along with David Toms, the world number six.
Singh, at one of his favourite venues, played his first eight holes in even par, then ran off consecutive birdies on the next three holes.
He capped his scoring with an 82-foot eagle putt on the par-five 15th hole to lead the field by four shots at that stage.
Leading third round scores (US unless stated):
201 — Vijay Singh (Fiji) 65, 71, 65.
204 — Charles Howell III 66, 69, 69.
206 — Phil Mickelson 70, 69, 67; Tiger Woods 71, 68, 67; David Toms 70, 66, 70.
207 — Jerry Kelly 71, 69, 67; Chris DiMarco 70, 68, 69.
208 — Kenny Perry 71, 69, 68; Scott McCarron 70, 69, 69.
209 — Robert Allenby (Australia) 74, 69, 66; Nick Price (Zimbabwe) 73, 68, 68; K.J. Choi (South Korea) 71, 68, 70; Steve Lowery 65, 71, 73.
210 — Davis Love III 72, 70, 68; Retief Goosen (South Africa) 69, 69, 72; Len Mattiace 68, 68, 74.
ROME: Ian Poulter took his second Italian Open title in three years amid high drama at Olgiata Sunday when his only rival, fellow Briton Paul Lawrie, went out of bounds at the last.
The Englishman’s birdie on the 18th caused a three-shot swing as his closing three-under-par 69 for 19-under-par 197, secured the title by two strokes.
Leading final round scores (Britain unless stated, a-denotes amateur):
197 — Ian Poulter 61, 67, 69.
199 — Paul Lawrie 66, 63, 70.
201 — Anthony Wall 69, 67, 65; Anders Hansen (Denmark) 64, 71, 66; Emanuele Canonica (Italy) 66, 65, 70.