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Fisher stumbles but still leads Irish Open

Sat 31st, July 2010

Killarney, Ireland (Sports Network) - Ross Fisher played his last 11 holes in four-over par Saturday, but still managed an even-par 71 and held on to first place after the third round of the Irish Open.

Fisher, who fired a tournament record-matching 61 on Friday, finished 54 holes at 12-under 201 at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club and is one stroke ahead of Chris Wood (66) and Francesco Molinari (69).

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano was one back until he double-bogeyed the 18th hole. He shot a three-under 68 and is alone in fourth place at minus-10.

Fisher got off to a beautiful start on Saturday morning in trying conditions. The wind blew and rain fell, but Fisher ran home a 20-foot birdie putt at the second.

The Englishman birdied the fourth, then hit a spectacular approach inside a foot to set up an easy birdie at No. 5. Fisher reached the par-five seventh green in two, but his 45-footer for eagle came up just short. He kicked in the short birdie putt and was 16-under for the championship with a six-shot advantage.

Things fell apart quickly for Fisher.

From the middle of the fairway, Fisher pulled his approach into water at the eighth. He dropped, then hit his fourth 25 feet past the flag stick. Fisher two-putted for a double-bogey, but was still three shots ahead after a Fernandez-Castano birdie.

Fisher parred six in a row and others started to make moves to threaten his lead. Fernandez-Castano got within two thanks to a birdie at the 12th, but Fisher had a great look at birdie from eight feet at 14. Fisher missed the birdie putt and was still two in front.

That margin lasted one hole. Fisher drove into the left rough near a tree. He had to go under the tree branches and punched his second through the green. Fisher chipped 18 feet past the cup and his par putt stayed above ground.

The bogey at 15 clipped his lead to one over Fernandez-Castano. Fisher dropped another shot at the 17th, but Fernandez-Castano double-bogeyed the last to fall to 10-under.

Fisher, now at 12-under, parred the last to end a complicated round.

"It was a tough day," said Fisher. "Unfortunately I tripped up on eight and obviously I'm disappointed to do 10 shots worse today."

Fisher has European Tour victories in the last three seasons and despite the sketchy finish, the Englishman is the man everyone will be after on Sunday.

"I feel like I am still swinging great and holing putts," said Fisher. "I just hope that I can go out there tomorrow and try and put today's round to the back of my mind. I'm still the man to catch."

Three-time major champion Padraig Harrington is the top Irishman on the leaderboard. He shot a two-under 69 on Saturday and is tied for fifth place with Richard Green, who also had a 69, at minus-nine.

Seung-yul Noh and Anders Hansen both carded rounds of one-under 70 and share seventh at eight-under 205. Richard Bland (66), Mark F. Haastrup (67) and Michael Hoey (71) are tied for ninth at minus-seven.

NOTES: Defending champion Shane Lowry shot a three-under 68 and moved up to a tie for 12th at six-under par...U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell also posted a 68 on Saturday and is tied for 21st.