Schwartzel in line for successful defense of title

MALELANE, South Africa - South African Charl Schwartzel went two shots clear of the chasing pack after the third round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek on Saturday to strengthen his chances of retaining his title.

Schwartzel hit a flawless round with five birdies as his overnight co-leader, Morten Orum Madsen, slumped to a 79 and fell 12 shots back.The former Masters champion shot a third-round 67 for a 13-under-par total of 203 and the lead over second-placed Englishman Richard Fuinch.

Dane Madsen won the South African Open last week in the first event of the new European Tour season.

Schwartzel birdied the par-five second and then made a potentially decisive move around the turn.

A superb approach to the eighth left the South African with a tap-in birdie and another followed from six feet on the ninth, taking him out in 32. Further birdies on the 12th and 13th took him to 13 under par.

"It's one of those courses where I'm comfortable with all of the right lines," said Schwartzel, who has not dropped a shot since a double bogey at the 10th hole of his opening round. 

"A lot of golf courses you need to hit it on lines that you feel awkward with, but this course is mostly right in front of you. And I think it helps that I've had good success here too," he told reporters after his round at the picturesque course adjoining the Kruger Park.

Last year Schwartzel won the trophy by 12 shots but he can expect a tough tussle in Sunday's final round.

Finch, who dropped four shots on the last three holes on Friday, came back strongly on Saturday as his round of 67 put him 11 under par.

He lost his European Tour card earlier this year and is playing in the event by invitation.

Two Frenchmen lie third and fourth - Victor Riu on 10-under and Romain Wattela a further stroke behind.

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Schwartzel leads after 3 rounds at Alfred Dunhill

MALELANE, South Africa -- Charl Schwartzel opened a two-shot lead after three rounds at the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

The defending champion, Schwartzel shot a 5-under 67 on Saturday to move to 13 under and pull away from England's Richard Finch at Leopard Creek. Victor Riu of France was another shot back at 10 under.

Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters champion, led after three rounds at the South African Open last weekend before struggling in the final round.

Schwartzel had five birdies and no bogeys to take the lead at the Alfred Dunhill, which he won by 12 shots a year ago for his last European Tour win. Schwartzel's co-overnight leader, Morten Orum Madsen, shot a 7-over 79.

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Scott leads McIlroy by 4 shots at Australian Open

SYDNEY -- Adam Scott shot a 4-under 68 Saturday to take a four-shot lead over Rory McIlroy heading into the final round of the Australian Open and move closer to a Australian triple crown.

Scott shot a course record 62 on the first day and followed with a second-round 70. Saturday's round of six birdies and two bogeys moved him to 16-under 200 for the tournament.Scott is trying to match Robert Allenby's 2005 accomplishment of winning the Open, Australian Masters and Australian PGA in succession. Scott also won the Masters at Augusta in April.

McIlroy started the day two shots behind Scott and lost ground with a bogey and double-bogey against five birdies, finishing with a 70. McIlroy is vying for his first victory of the year.

Australians Richard Green, Matthew Jones and Max McCardle shared third place at 8 under, eight shots off the pace.

Scott's round on Saturday means he is now 51 under par for his three tournaments in Australia this year.

''To win my national championship tomorrow and then also win the three events down here is an unbelievable spot to be in,'' Scott said. ''If you'd told me that a month ago, I wouldn't have believed you. 

''Before this month started, I hadn't won two tournaments in a row ever. So to have this opportunity is a bit unreal.''

Scott said he would sleep easier after holing a six-foot birdie putt on the last hole and then watching McIlroy miss a birdie putt from closer range to increase the Australian's lead.

''One round away and a lot can happen,'' he said. ''(There's) a phenomenon behind me as well so I'm sure he's going to throw plenty at me tomorrow. 

''I'm going to have to do a couple of things better than I did today. But as long as the eye stays in with the putter, I should be able to hang on. To finish it off tomorrow would be an incredible way to end the year.''

McIlroy said his missed birdie chance on 18 had been costly.

''It was big,'' he said. ''It would have been nice to birdie that to make the gap from four to three.''

Jason Day, who partnered with Scott to win the World Cup of golf for Australia last week, had the day's equal-best round of 66 to briefly take the clubhouse lead but eventually that was only good for a tie for 10th.

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OneAsia drop inaugural tour championship from 2013 schedule

SYDNEY - OneAsia have dropped their inaugural Tour Championship from the 2013 schedule after failing to secure enough big name players for the $2 million tournament.

The event was announced in May and scheduled to take place at Mission Hills in Shenzhen, China next month but will now be part of an expanded 2014 schedule, a spokesman for the Asia-Pacific tour said.

"The tournament promoters set a high bar for the inaugural championship, but unfortunately several of the targeted players already had commitments, so the first edition has been postponed until next year," he said. 

"It has been a year of consolidation both for OneAsia and the industry in general, but we expect to shortly announce an outline of our expanded 2014 schedule which already includes a confirmed new tournament, the Fiji International, co-sanctioned with the PGA Tour of Australasia."

The decision to postpone the Tour Championship means this week's co-sanctioned Australian Open will be the ninth and final individual event of the year.

Australian Matthew Griffin now looks certain to secure the tour's Order of Merit, barring a spectacular collapse over the final two days at Royal Sydney.

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