As I have said many times over the years, when I am asked to pick winners of golf tournaments there are several criteria I look for, besides closing my eyes and sticking a pin in the tee times, and one of them is who is in form.
This week I said Bo Van Pelt 69 -8 total, would be in contention because he was so dominant, so in control of all his game with his win in Malaysia last week. He is -31 over his last 6 rounds, all in the 60's.
Fredrik "Freddie" Jacobsen, born in Kungsbacka, Sweden, love saying that, was 3rd last week and now that he is over the jet lag these guys suffer when they come from the west to the far east, he is comfortable and has continued the form he displayed last week with a nifty -6 66 -11 total to take a one shot lead over a crowded leaderboard in Shanghai.
Freddie has moved to the States and quietly made $2.5m this year with 21 of 25 cuts and a win at the Travellers. Here are his best results..
WON 2011 Travelers Championship
3 2011 CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Malaysia
T5 2011 Valero Texas Open
T9 2011 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard
T11 2011 World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational
The Sheshan International course is very soft with all the rain and humidity, so it is playing long, but the greens are like dart boards. Freddie has a new Calloway driver which he says is longer and straighter, perfect for this, or any course for that matter.
I watched most of this overnight, Adam Scott 65 -10 looks really composed, that long putter, and Stevie Williams on his bag have made a big difference, Louis Oosthuizen is powerful for a small man and he was unconscious with the round of the day 63,-10 total
Keegan Bradley 70 -9, also continues to make just about everything with his long putter, and Lee Westwood as professional as ever 68, -7 total
Rory continues his bad habit of missing tiddlers, he had 7 birdies but 4 bogey's including a 3 putt from no more than 12 feet. 69,-5 total. Miss Wosniaki was waiting happily for him as he left the 18th...
I said the leaderboard was crowded, there are 20 players within 6 shots of Freddie's lead going into this weekend, including Rory, GMac, Justin Rose, Westwood, Mahan, Kaymer, Poulter, Schwartzel etal, like we said at the onset, a world class field..
There is no cut. For live scoring click here http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011081/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
round 3 pairings http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r489/tee-times.html
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
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