Chalmers in Familiar Position at Australian Open


Greg Chalmers carded an even-par 71 to fall into a tie for the lead at the Australian Open. The PGA Tour of Australasia event started Thursday at a difficult Australian Golf Club near Sydney.

Chalmers, a 41-year-old left-hander from Sydney with two victories in the Open, enters the final round sharing the lead at 5-under 208 with fellow Aussie Brent Rumford and American Jordan Spieth, who each carded 69s.

One stroke back is Adam Scott and Rod Pampling, who both had 69s.

Particularly difficult for the players at the host course are the greens. "They're baked, they're very shiny, they've firmed up significantly and then with this wind, there were putts that were lightning fast," Spieth said. "I almost prefer it, wind and a very difficult golf course, I feel like plays into my hands."

The wind has also been a factor. "It really came up around the turn and blew hard on the back nine," Scott said. "It's really tough with the way it's blowing, you are trying to stay as stable as you can. It's certainly presented a pretty tough challenge this week."

Rumford said the course was on the "razor's edge" of difficulty, about what you'd expect for a national golf championship. "You feel as though you're pedaling a million miles an hour going nowhere, seemingly," he said.

Rory McIlroy was tied for the lead in the third round before calamity struck when he tripled the ninth hole and doubled the next en route to a 76.

"I hit a wayward tee shot into what I thought was a decent-enough lie that I could advance the ball," McIlroy said of his problems around the turn. "But I didn't realize what I was standing on is not like dirt or earth. It was more like carpet. So the ball went underneath the carpet. Had it been a normal surface it would have been all right, but down there it was impossible."

The 25-year-old Northern Irishman enters Sunday tied for 14th at 1-over par, but feels he still has a chance. "I need a fast start tomorrow to have a chance," he said. "I still feel like I can shoot a good one."

For all the scores, visit http://www.ausopengolf.com/scores.