Ogilvy takes two-shot lead at Australian Masters

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Geoff Ogilvy took a two-stroke lead Saturday in the Australian Masters, shooting an 8-under 63 on his boyhood course at Victoria Golf Club.

Ogilvy, the 2006 U.S. Open champion, had a 13-under 200 total. He eagled the short par-4 opening hole -- hitting a 3-iron to 5 feet -- and had nine birdies and three bogeys.

England's Ian Poulter, the leader after each of the first two rounds, was second after a 69. Australians Nathan Green (67) and Ashley Hall (68) were 9 under.

Greg Chalmers topped a group at 7 under after 67. He's trying to become the second player to complete the Australian Triple Crown after sweeping the Australian Open and Australian PGA last month. Robert Allenby accomplished the feat in 2005.

Top-ranked Luke Donald was 5 under after a 69.

Ogilvy's round tied the eight-year-old course record set by John Wade.

"I think I left a few shots out there weirdly enough, but I think I stole a couple as well, so it all balances out," Ogilvy said.

The Australian followed up his eagle at the 233 meter first hole with a birdie at the second after a long-iron approach to within a few feet, then sank a 50-foot putt for birdie at the third.

After a bogey at the 398-meter par-four fifth, Ogilvy reeled off birdies at four of the next five holes to cement his lead and to complete his outward nine in 29.

He pitched in from 40 meters for birdie at the 400 meter par-four 12th to move to eight under for his round and to a four shot lead. But his run ended with a bogey at the 435-yard par-four 13th, the hardest hole on the course, before a birdie at the last.

"To start eagle, birdie, birdie you're usually going to have a pretty good day after you do that which is a bonus," Ogilvy said. "Playing a thousand rounds on this course I've probably only made three or four twos on the first, or maybe five, but not many, so to start a round like that was pretty good.

"After that every time I had a wedge in my hands on the fairway I hit it pretty close."

Poulter said he struggled with the northeasterly wind on Saturday after southwesterlies on the first two days.

"Hats off to Geoff for going out and scoring 8-under-par in that wind today, it's a great score," Poulter said. "When someone posts a course record on you on Saturday then generally they move forward. Geoff's done that and I'll be chasing him down tomorrow."

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Thompson gets putter under control, takes lead in Dubai

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- American teenager Lexi Thompson took a two-shot lead after the second round of the Dubai Ladies Masters on Thursday, putting her on course to become the second youngest winner ever on the European Tour.

The 16-year-old Thompson, who became the youngster winner on the LPGA Tour earlier this year, strung together six birdies on her way to a bogey-free 6-under 66 and a total of 136 for the tournament.

Tied for 16th after the first day, Thompson got her short game and irons working on Thursday, hitting a lob wedge to within 10 feet of the pin on the second hole and sending a 178-yard iron shot on the next hole to within 15 feet of the hole. She birdied both holes.

Swedish veteran Sophie Gustafson (67) and Margherita Rigon (68) shared second place, while Paraguay's Julieta Granada and Becky Morgan of Wales were one shot farther back on 139.

"I just made a few more putts today," Thompson said. "I hit it a little bit closer. I was just thinking 'stay steady' and playing consistent."

Thompson has started to match the hype that has surrounded her arrival on the tour, winning the Navistar LPGA Classic by five strokes in September.

A victory in Dubai would make her the second-youngest winner on the European Tour after Amy Yang of South Korea, who won the ANZ Masters in 2006 at 16 years, 191 days. That is just over five months younger than Thompson.

"This is such a great tournament and it would be an honor to win this," Thompson said. "So I'm jut going to try and take it easy and play one shot at a time."

Fellow American Michelle Wie climbed back into contention, shooting a 5-under 67 to remain four shots adrift. Wie also got her start on the LPGA Tour at 16 -- turning pro two years ago.

However, she has struggled to meet expectations, winning only twice on the LPGA Tour and this year falling to 17th in the world rankings due to nagging injuries and a drop in form.

The 22-year-old Wie, looking for her first win of the year, bounced back from an opening 73 in which her shaky putting led to three bogeys. On Thursday, Wie had a bogey-free round in the season-ending event and sank several key birdie putts, including a 30-footer on No. 12. She had five birdies overall, including four on the back nine for a total of 140.

"A little frustrated after the last two holes, but I kept steady out there today," said Wie, who missed a 12-foot birdie putt on No. 18. "I made a couple more putts, and I have two more days to try and shoot some more low scores. I'm still in contention, and going to go out there tomorrow, shoot another low round."

Playing alongside Wie, the 38-year-old Gustafson is also looking for her first victory of the year. She was five shots back after the first day, but had five birdies in a bogey-free second round.

"I was striking the ball very well, so it feels good," Gustafson said. "I was actually hitting the ball awful on Tuesday during the Pro Am, but the Swedish coaches that are here this week from the Swedish Golf Federation helped me find my ball striking."

Four-time major winner Laura Davies (81) continued to struggle in Dubai. The 48-year-old Englishwoman is at 156 will miss the cut for the second week in a row.

She made an early exit at the Indian Open -- only the fourth time she had missed a cut on tour -- after her caddie failed to show up for the first round because of visa problems. She carried her own bag and shot 3 over the first day.

This week, Davies said her problems came down to poor play. Needing a sub-par round Thursday for any chance to play into the weekend, Davies had three bogeys and two double-bogeys on the front nine to end her chances.

"I started nicely. Three-putted the first and had an eagle chance on 3 and just missed it," Davies said. "On the fourth hole, I hit what I thought was a good chip and it went in the water. Triple-bogey, six over. The cut is obviously going to be 1 or 2 [over] and that is a long ways back from there."

 

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