Lee Westwood sailed into a five-shot lead after the third round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City on Saturday, getting through some stormy seas with only minimal damage.
Westwood's game was not as hot as on the second day when his electrifying eight-under-par 64 gave him a three-shot lead, but he remained firmly in control as he collected birdies on the second, sixth and 10th holes.
The world number one eased to the turn on 14-under-par and restored a four-shot lead over Ross Fisher with a birdie on the par-five 10th hole, but bogeys on the 13th and 17th holes marred what has been a top-class performance by a man whose confidence seems to know no bounds at the moment.
A three-putt was responsible for his slip-up on the 13th, while a tentative stroke on the 17th green saw Westwood miss a relatively short par putt.
The Englishman admitted that he had found it a tricky day as the wind swirled around the hills at Sun City.
"It was tricky, there was a lot more wind, the tees were back and the pins were tucked away. It was also pretty hot out there, I felt drained and the legs were weary on the back nine.
"But you're in the middle of a volcano so the wind is going to swirl around, it's the nature of the beast. Three bogeys in 54 holes is pretty good going," Westwood said.
Fisher was looking to put some pressure on Westwood and birdied the par-four third hole before patiently going through a quiet patch that ended with a birdie on the par-five ninth hole that closed the gap to three strokes.
Fisher also birdied the par-three 12th hole, sinking a 20-foot putt, but his game off the tee, one of his strongest points, suddenly deserted him without any warning as he bogeyed both 14 and 15.
There wasn't any hope of him being able to play his ball from deep within the bush to the right of the 14th fairway and, when he later hit his approach shot into the waste bunker in front of the green, it condemned him to a bogey.
Westwood had just three-putted for bogey on the 13th, to cut his lead to two shots, and Fisher admitted he had stepped on to the 14th teebox looking to put the boot in.
"On 14 I just went a bit too far right and the wind got hold of it. Then on 15 I compounded the error and went the other way.
"They were two bad drives at the wrong time because if I'd hit it down the middle on 14, I definitely had a chance of going for the green in two and putting some pressure on Lee," Fisher said.
Fisher's problems continued on 17 when his approach was short, skipped off the bank and into the water in front of the green, leading to a double-bogey.
Westwood also dropped a shot on 17, but was still sitting pretty at the end of the day.
"I was three ahead at the start of the round and now the lead is five, which you don't expect when you're two-over for the last eight holes. But no lead is ever enough, it's by no means over although I am in a nice position," Westwood said.
Miguel Angel Jimenez was in a tie for third overnight and the Spaniard produced an entertaining round of 71 on Saturday to lie six shots off Westwood's pace. Jimenez had four birdies and three bogeys, but he is the type of golfer who sells tickets because he never fails to share his enjoyment with the gallery.
"I played some beautiful shots for the people to love, but I feel one-under-par was not enough, three or four-under would have been better. But I am having a lot of fun, this is a beautiful place, the people treat us unbelievably and there are big crowds. It makes me very happy to see them enjoying the golf. It's important to make people laugh, to see happy faces," Jimenez said.
Tim Clark was in second place, tied with Fisher on eight-under-par, after an inspired round of 68, which included three birdies around the turn and another at 18 after a magnificent approach shot to two feet.
