Danny Willett is 18 holes away from his first victory since his famous Masters Tournament triumph last April after the Englishman carded a five under par third round 67 to move three shots clear at the Maybank Championship.
The 29 year old did take a round-about way to a closing birdie at the 18th after steering his second shot at the par five to behind a large hospitality unit to the left of the green, but he benefited from a lucky free drop just metres from the putting surface before almost chipping in for eagle.
Willett, who was formerly attached to this week’s host venue Saujana Golf and Country Club, will surely see that fortunate break as an omen as he enters the final round with a 16 under total and a commanding lead, his playing partner David Lipsky the closest challenger on 13 under after the American carded a four under 68.
Alexander Levy of France is a shot further back as he chases a fourth European Tour title and a second in Asia, while two of his compatriots – Grégory Havret and Mike Lorenzo-Vera – joined three others on 11 under par, five shots off the lead.
Player quotes:
Danny Willett
“It was an up and down day, I’d have taken a 67 at the start of the day, it spreads the top five and top six guys out a bit more and further away. I’m probably going to go hit a few balls and make a few little minor tweaks here and there to try to get the driver to where it’s been most of the week.
“(At the 18th) I hit an OK drive and it leaked a little bit and nipped in by the palm trees on the right. I had 221 yards for a 247 flag and just tried to hit a big cut down out of the right. It was pretty tricky, I needed to miss that first palm tree with the leaves hanging over.
“I hit it well but it’s just gone absolutely bullet straight, and in the air I’m thinking it should probably pitch just short of the grandstand and it flew a lot further then I thought. It could have gone anywhere but luckily it’s just gone around the back and you just go and drop in the drop zone.
“It comes and goes, the luck. I missed a couple of putts but there were a couple of loose swings in there. I still hit good shots when I needed to hit them. I wasn’t making it too tough for myself when I went into the greens, I hit a lot – not necessarily close – but missed a few of the chances that I had.
“You can’t change your mind set really. Today the wind was completely in the other direction and gusting and swirling so I don’t think you can talk through strategy. You’re trying to hit it to the same spots and with the wind today, all that happened was we changed club to try hit those spots.
“I’m not sure what will win it to be honest, depends on if we pitch up and it’s flat calm. I think there’s a few guys that can go low if it’s windy like this. One or two under par is a good knock out there so I think it all depends on the weather tomorrow.”
David Lipsky
“I played really well today, but didn’t hit it my best coming into the greens. I drove it well and scrambled well and I’m pretty happy with what I shot. I just need to keep doing what I’m doing. I’m playing pretty well and giving myself opportunities. I’ll need to take advantage of the par fives, tomorrow, that’s what I need to do.
“My last birdie before 18 was on ten so I’m happy to have made that. Danny and I are friends and it’ll be neat out there competing.”
Alexander Levy
“It was really good. I played very well today, especially from tee to green. I had a lot of good chances for birdie and I’m really happy with how I’ve been playing in the last three days. It will be nice to be in the last group now and be in contention in the last round.
“I used a lot of driver today from the tee, I was feeling really good with driver in my hand. It gave me a lot of wedge shots and I was also very aggressive with my wedges, made a few putts and that was great.
“I don’t think about past victories, it’s been tough for me the last few months. I have a new coach so to be in this situation now is very nice. Tomorrow I will enjoy being in this position.”
Bernd Wiesberger
“I didn’t play great today obviously but I’ve got to say I was pretty good all through the round. I played better than the score I think. It was just completely opposite to yesterday, I couldn’t hole a putt and didn’t get the yardages.
“I didn’t get a break either like you need to so it was just frustrating. I started with the first tee shot, smashed it right down the middle and it ended up in the right rough after clipping the tree. I couldn’t get the momentum going and I had terrible pace on the greens early on.
“I three-putted the third, three-putted the sixth and it was just the complete opposite to yesterday, but whatever I did yesterday I’ll try to get that feeling back tomorrow. I would have loved to birdie the last obviously but it wasn’t my day today so I need a big one tomorrow.”
Scores:
200 D Willett (Eng) 66 67 67,
203 D Lipsky (USA) 68 67 68,
204 A Levy (Fra) 69 68 67,
205 K Kim (Kor) 68 68 69, G Havret (Fra) 69 70 66, B Wiesberger (Aut) 69 63 73, M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 70 65 70, P Pittayarat (Tha) 70 69 66,
206 F Zanotti (Par) 70 69 67, A Lahiri (Ind) 69 68 69,
207 S Sharma (Ind) 68 68 71,
208 J Veerman (USA) 73 68 67, G Bhullar (Ind) 66 72 70, T Jaidee (Tha) 71 68 69, L Haotong (Chn) 71 69 68,
209 T Fleetwood (Eng) 72 68 69, S Kapur (Ind) 70 67 72, P Larrazábal (Esp) 72 67 70, P Khongwatmai (Tha) 65 75 69, L Westwood (Eng) 73 66 70, P Peterson (USA) 71 70 68, H Porteous (RSA) 70 72 67,
210 S Brazel (Aus) 66 71 73, R Khan (Ind) 72 68 70, M Siem (Ger) 66 71 73, R Paratore (Ita) 69 71 70, M Warren (Sco) 63 75 72, B Leong (Mas) 70 71 69,
211 J Morrison (Eng) 70 67 74, S Rahman (Ban) 69 69 73, S Lee (Kor) 67 73 71, R Rock (Eng) 71 67 73, D Rahman (am) (Mas) 73 67 71,
212 P Meesawat (Tha) 69 70 73, L Bjerregaard (Den) 69 70 73, P Swangarunporn (Tha) 70 72 70, W Ashun (Chn) 73 67 72, L Wenchong (Chn) 70 70 72, C Pigem (Esp) 72 69 71, P Uihlein (USA) 66 76 70, M Kieffer (Ger) 71 70 71, M Manassero (Ita) 71 66 75, M Korhonen (Fin) 73 69 70,
213 C Kumar (Ind) 70 72 71, C Paisley (Eng) 72 70 71, N Bertasio (Ita) 69 71 73, R Wattel (Fra) 68 70 75, F Aguilar (Chi) 72 70 71, T Sinnott (Aus) 70 70 73, R Cabrera Bello (Esp) 70 72 71, M Kawamura (Jpn) 74 68 71, L Jensen (Den) 67 73 73, A Da Silva (Bra) 72 69 72,
214 L Wei-Chih (Tpe) 69 73 72, T Chuayprakong (Tha) 69 73 72, A Dodt (Aus) 72 69 73, D Chia (Mas) 72 69 73, N Fung (Mas) 70 72 72, G Green (Mas) 68 71 75,
215 S Hend (Aus) 74 66 75, D Koh (Sin) 72 70 73, J Colomo (Esp) 72 70 73, K Horne (RSA) 73 68 74, G Stal (Fra) 72 70 73,
216 N Turner (Irl) 68 71 77, A Otaegui (Esp) 70 72 74, J Campillo (Esp) 73 69 74,
217 J Randhawa (Ind) 73 69 75,
219 A Irawan (Mas) 66 76 77,
** V Dubuisson (Fra) 70 72 RT,
