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Casey was the man
who battled Harrington all the way to the wire for the Order of Merit crown
in October, and with both players in contention on the final day, it means
that the 2006 Harry Vardon Trophy winner and The European Tour Golfer of the
Year are both steeped in the thick of the action before the year is three
weeks old.
However Harrington was quick to play down any hint of a growing friendly
rivalry between the two players. Asked if he would be keeping an eye on
Casey, Harrington responded: “I am not going to look at anyone other than
myself.
“I’ve done particularly well for three rounds and haven’t seen the
scoreboard until the 18th green each day, so I certainly won’t be looking at
one individual out there. Well, I’ll be looking at only one individual and
that will be me. I won’t worry about anyone else. There will be more than
just Paul Casey trying to play good golf tomorrow and I would be a foolish
person to worry about only one individual.”
Casey, who has crept stealthily through the field during the first three
days, missed a short birdie putt on the 18th to get within two strokes of
the leader, but admitted: “My goal was to get into double digits and I
achieved that. It was a shame I didn’t get another birdie at the last but a
combination of a poor stroke and the grain on the green meant that I didn’t
touch the hole!
“I am in there with a shout now and am not too far back. I think I will
probably need another 67, or maybe a 66, to have a sniff of the title but I
will chase Padraig all the way. He works so hard that he deserves all the
success he gets and I try to make sure I work as hard as he does.
“It’s early in the season and I can’t afford to force things tomorrow, but
if I can produce another round like this one, then I will be happy.”
Harrington, who is chasing his 11th success on The European Tour
International Schedule, admitted a preference to holding a lead going into
the final round – “preferably six shots!” – but added: “Although it can make
you a little bit protective, it’s less stressful than chasing.
“It would be a big pleasure and quite a surprise to win here. I’d be
thrilled with that – in fact, I’m thrilled that I’m well ahead of where I
thought I would be at this stage of the year. It’s a nice position.”
Hanson, who won the Open de Espana in 2005, fired the lowest score among the
leaders, a six under par 66, to climb to 12 under par. The Swede has trimmed
two strokes off his opening 70 on successive days and smiled: “It would be
great if I could keep the sequence going. I would take a 64 tomorrow.”
Victory would be sweet for the new dad, whose wife Sanna gave birth to the
couple’s first child on January 2. After the birth of daughter Stella he
confessed: “I’ve been walking on cloud nine ever since. It feels wonderful
and it would be great to win for her.”
Jiménez and Kapur both carded rounds of 68, four under par, to join Hanson
in the group nuzzling in behind Harrington. The Spaniard conceded that his
rich vein of form has come of something of a surprise.
“I just packed the clubs away after playing in the World Cup in Barbados
last month” he said. “I went off to the mountains in Grenada with my family
for a bit of skiing and it was great fun. Fortunately I have found my game
quickly and it would be nice to get my year off to a good start with a win.”
Tickets for the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, which ends Sunday, January 21,
are available via the official website –
www.abudhabigolfchampionship.com – online at
www.timeouttickets.com, via the ITP toll free hotline 800 4669 or for
international clients +971 4 210 8943 and at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
Tickets are priced at AED 125 for a daily pass and AED400 for a four-day
pass though preferential rates of AED100 and AED300 respectively apply to
UGA members. Children under 18 will be admitted free when accompanied by an
adult. Car parking will be free during the Championship.
A complementary shuttle bus is available to take fans from Abu Dhabi city
centre and Dubai to Abu Dhabi Golf Club. The buses depart both Abu Dhabi
City Terminal and the Kempinski Hotel, Mall of the Emirates, at 8.30am,
9.30am, 10.30am, 11.30am and 12.30pm. The return from Abu Dhabi Golf Club to
both destinations is at 3.00pm, 4.00pm, 5.00pm, 6.00pm and 7.00pm.
The high profile sponsorship line up for the Championship includes Etihad
Airways and Aldar as Diamond Sponsors; Emirates Palace hotel, Etisalat and
Standard Chartered Bank as a Platinum Sponsors; Nissan, Airbus, Rolls-Royce,
Omega and Xerox as Gold Sponsors; Gulf News as the Official Newspaper; and
Middle East Golfer as the Official Magazine.
For further information:
Barbara Saunders, MCS/Action, UAE.
Tel: +971 4 390 2960
Fax: +9714 390 8161
Email: barbara.s@actionprgroup.com
Or log on to the championship at:
www.abudhabigolfchampionship.com
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