Toms sets course record but can't shake Campbell
HONOLULU -- David Toms felt a gentle breeze on his face when he stepped to the first tee Saturday in the Sony Open. Compared with his first two weeks in Hawaii, it must have felt like playing golf in a dome.
In calmer conditions along the shores of the Pacific Ocean, Toms set a course record at Waialae Country Club with a 9-under 61 that turned the Sony Open into a two-man race with the equally hot Chad Campbell.
Campbell played even better from tee-to-green, with 11 birdie chances inside 15 feet. He converted eight of them for a 62 and was tied with Toms at 14-under 196, seven clear of anyone else.
Toms wasn't thinking about his score or any kind of record.
"I was just trying to keep up," Toms said.
It took every bit of his pure putting stroke. Twice when Campbell was in gimme range for birdie, Toms ran in long putts to stay one shot behind. Both made good par saves on the 17th, Toms finally caught him on the par-5 18th after a rare mistake by Campbell, who found deep rough off the tee. Toms two-putted for birdie.
His 61 broke by one shot the record at Waialae since it was changed to a par 70 in 1999. It was last set by Ernie Els a year ago in the final round. The course record still belongs to Davis Love III, who shot 12-under 60 in 1994.
"Just a fun day to play golf," said Toms, who didn't have much fun on the wind-swept Plantation course at Kapalua last week when he started his year with 79-75 on the weekend. "I definitely think last week helped me, coming in here when we had tough conditions (the first two days). Then when it doesn't blow, and you can hit a normal shot, you're licking your chops that, hey, I can score here."
Campbell, who grew up in west Texas where the land is flat and the wind howls, was flawless with his irons and made four straight birdies from the seventh through the 10th holes.
He couldn't shake Toms, but they left the rest of the field far behind.
"I was able to follow in his footsteps," Campbell said, although it looked to be the other way around. "It was nice to see the wind calm down so we could make some birdies."
Big-hitting Bubba Watson, who hit a wedge into the par-5 18th for a birdie and a 66, and Shane Bertsch (63) were tied for third at 7-under 203. Jim Furyk, tied with Campbell starting the third round, struggled to a 70 that left him in the group at 204 that included Rory Sabbatini and Charles Warren.
Waialae was missing some energy with 16-year-old Michelle Wie home writing a school paper instead of testing herself on the PGA Tour. Not even one-fourth of the gallery that watched her for two days were with the final threesome, although the golf was superb.
A gentle breeze allowed for better scoring, but no one took advantage like Toms and Campbell.
Defending champion Vijay Singh went out in 30 to pull within one shot of the lead, but he managed only two birdies and two bogeys on the back nine for a 65, and wound up losing ground. He was nine shots behind.
Toms was tied with Campbell after hitting into 8 feet on the difficult sixth hole, putting both at 7 under. Campbell responded with a 6-iron into 4 feet on the seventh. That was the start of four straight birdies, and Toms did well to stay with him.
The biggest putt for Toms might have come at No. 11, a par 3 with skinny palms providing a frame of the Pacific Ocean. Toms hit 4-iron just through the green, and his putter got caught in the collar of the rough as he took a practice stroke. He had to lift the putter and pop the ball, but it came out perfect.
Two other birdies were surprising, and badly needed.
Campbell hit 8-iron into 4 feet on the 14th, while Toms was across the green some 30 feet away. He made the birdie to stay one behind. Then on the 16th, after Campbell hit a wedge into 2 feet, Toms rolled in a 75-footer.
"He's such a good putter, he can make a lot of long putts," Campbell said.
No one else came close, although the guys behind them have few complaints.
The first full-field event of the PGA Tour was ripe with opportunity for unheralded players to get a start on the year, and some of them took advantage.
Bertsch, a 35-year-old from Denver who failed badly his first two times on tour, made eagle on the par-5 18th to cap off a 63 and will play in the final group with Toms and Campbell.
Watson was the most entertaining with his sheer length. His driving distance was legendary on the Nationwide Tour, and he got some attention the first two days playing in the group behind Wie. As she left the green, the gallery couldn't help but notice a tee shot coming up behind them.
And it was even more noticeable Saturday when Watson played with Fred Funk, one of the shortest hitters on the tour. On the 18th hole, Watson wound up and hammered another tee shot that went 363 yards, leaving him 104 yards ahead of Funk. Watson hit wedge into the par 5 and made birdie for his 66.
Asked what he did well, Watson replied, "Kept it in bounds."
Divots
David Duval continued to hit the ball better, but
struggled when he missed the green and shot 72, leaving him in last
place at 215. ... Only three players have broken par all three days
-- Campbell, Toms and former U.S. Open champion Steve Jones
(69-68-68).
Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press
