Storms halt Ogilvy charge

The scene at Doral

Leaderboard:
-14 G Ogilvy (Aus) thru 11
-13 A Scott (Aus) thru 11
-11 V Singh (Fij) thru 16
-11 T Clark (SA) thru 15
-11 T Woods (US) thru 11

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Geoff Ogilvy retained a one-stroke lead over the field when rain ended play midway through the third round of the WGC-CA Championship at Doral.

Play got underway early on Saturday but the forecast thunderstorms hit the course earlier than expected with just 24 players safely in the clubhouse.

They brought a premature end to some devastating charges through the field by Vijay Singh and Tim Clark, who were eight-under and seven for the day respectively when the siren sounded with the leaders through 11 holes.

All eyes were on Tiger Woods in the final group but the world number one endured a frustrating day, being the only player in the top 20 not to beat par after just a single birdie wiped out a dropped shot at the second - the consequence of a second missed putt of less than four feet in a row.

"I need to hit the ball a touch better but more importantly make some putts," he said. "To three-putt the first two holes right out of the gate is never a good thing.

"I'm still right there - a lot of holes to be played, and I hope I can get it going and get hot for the rest of the day."

But Australian Ogilvy, who began the day one ahead, picked up shots at the seventh and ninth to stay at the top although countryman Adam Scott - also in the final group - was just one back after gaining four shots including an eagle three at the first.

Singh on song

But what had looked a three-horse race at halfway was turning into a much more competitive event thanks to the play of Singh, who was just two under par at the turn and -5 for the tournament.

But the Fijian picked up six shots in seven holes, including an eagle at the 12th, to move right into contention before the storms moved in to check his progress.

And it was a similar story for South African Clark, who birdied five of the first seven holes and picked up a further two shots on the back nine to sit alongside Singh on 11-under-par and three off the lead.

Englishman Graeme Storm was another to make hay while the sun shone, dropping just a single shot as he made it to -10 - seven under for the round - with three holes left to play.

Compatriot Ian Poulter endured a difficult day, damaging his putter after dropping a shot at the 14th and having to use a wedge on the greens thereafter.

"It wasn't as if I'd smashed the putter on the ground," he said. "But the weight on the back came loose, so therefore the characteristics of the putter have changed.

"My view was the angle hasn't changed - the shaft angle isn't bent - but under the rules it's deemed to be taken out of play, so I had to putt with the wedge."

However, Poulter went on birdie the 16th from three feet and then rolled in a 20-footer on the last for par to card a 72 and remain at -1 for the tournament.