March 17 (Reuters) – Ailing South African Retief Goosen
birdied three of the last five holes to surge into a tie for the
lead in Saturday’s third round of the Transitions Championship
at Palm Harbor, Florida, and keep his Masters hopes alive.
The twice former U.S. Open champion, who has been battling a
bad back since midway through last year, fired a six-under-par
65 on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook to finish level with
American Jim Furyk (66) at 11-under 202.
Furyk, whose only major victory came at the 2003 U.S. Open,
was one stroke in front before he three-putted to bogey the
par-four last.
South Korean Bae Sang-moon, a rookie on the 2012 PGA Tour,
was a further stroke back after carding a 68, level with
overnight leader Jason Dufner of the U.S. who returned a level
71.
Goosen, however, was the surprise package of the day, having
earlier pulled out of from next week’s Arnold Palmer
Invitational at Bay Hill to get further treatment on his
troublesome back.
The 43-year-old, who won this event in 2003 and again in
2009, will have protein injections next week to help alleviate
two bulging disks.
“My back has been the main issue since last year,” Goosen
told reporters. “I pulled out of the British Open and the PGA
(Championship) and then took a few months off towards the end of
the year.
“I was then back playing in November, December and January
in South Africa but the last three weeks, it’s really just
started getting bad again.
“So we withdrew from Bay Hill yesterday and I’m going to get
the injections done on Wednesday. Hopefully I’ll be ready to get
going again after the Masters, or maybe at the Masters if I play
well tomorrow.”
Continued…
