01골프의 성지에서 그리는 우승 시나리오, '루키' 저비스의 비상
남아프리카 공화국의 신성 케이시 저비스가 DP 월드 투어의 권위 있는 대회인 알프레드 던힐 링크스 챔피언십에서 '꿈의 리드'를 확보했다. 저비스는 대회 3라운드 내내 정교한 샷감을 뽐내며 순위표 최상단을 차지, 최종 라운드를 앞두고 유리한 고지를 선점했다.
이번 대회는 세인트앤드루스 올드 코스, 카누스티, 킹스반스 등 세계적인 링크스 코스들을 순회하며 진행되는 만큼 선수들에게 고도의 집중력을 요구한다. 저비스는 까다로운 코스 조건 속에서도 흔들림 없는 경기력을 유지하며 쟁쟁한 베테랑들 사이에서 독보적인 존재감을 드러냈다.
생애 첫 우승을 목전에 둔 저비스는 인터뷰를 통해 이번 선두 등극이 자신에게 얼마나 큰 의미인지 강조했다. 그는 골프의 성지로 불리는 이곳에서 리더보드 상단에 자신의 이름을 올린 것을 '꿈만 같은 일'이라 표현하며, 마지막까지 침착함을 유지해 우승컵을 들어 올리겠다는 포부를 밝혔다.
02Original (English) — DP World Tour
Casey Jarvis said he is realising every golfer's dream by taking a two-shot lead at St Andrews into the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship as he goes in search of his third win of the season on the DP World Tour.
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
End of dialog window.
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.
In windy conditions around The Old Course, St Andrews on Saturday, second-round leader Jarvis extended his lead to two shots over Matthew Jordan and Adrian Meronk with a bogey-free 65 to sit on 18-under-par.
Jarvis, who claimed the Magical Kenya Open presented by Asba and the Investec South African Open Championship earlier this year, said he is keen to enjoy the moment as he attempts to become the first three-time winner this season.
"I'm super pleased," Jarvis said after his round.
"I just felt like I was in control of my game today. I was really solid tee-to-green, and luckily rolled in a couple putts. I didn't find that -- he found the wind pretty tricky on the front nine. I'm not a big fan of left-to-right wind off the tee with driver. So I managed it pretty well, and yeah, super pleased.
"Every golfer dreams of taking a lead, playing the Old Course on Sunday. I got goosebumps right now just standing here. I just can't wait for tomorrow. Even if I don't win, you know, to be taking the lead, I'm just going to enjoy it as much as I can.
"I mean, obviously I know I'm going to be feeling pressure tomorrow. I have won twice this year. So I kind of know how to deal with it a little better. I still know I'm going to feel first tee nerves and pressure throughout the day.
"But I'm just going to try and manage it as much as I can. I'm playing tomorrow with my Am, as well, and it's so nice. We have fun out there, and I think that's going to really help me tomorrow."
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
End of dialog window.
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.
Having held a one shot overnight advantage, the South African got off to the perfect start by holing his second shot of the day for an eagle at the par-four 10th.
With Jordan also making his own fast start through his front nine, Jarvis consistently set the target, adding further birdies at 11, 13 and 14 to get to 16-under-par.
With pars at his next six holes, the 23-year-old then regained a one shot lead with a brilliant up and down for birdie from out of position at the third, before extending that lead to two strokes with a birdie at the fifth.
He parred the rest of his way in, producing a great escape from a pot bunker at the sixth, lipping out for birdie at the seventh and narrowly missing chances at both of his final holes.
He sits two shots clear of Matthew Jordan and Adrian Meronk, who posted rounds of 66 and 63 respectively around Kingsbarns.
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
End of dialog window.
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.
Jordan, who is searching for his first DP World Tour victory after two runner-ups this season, added a third round 66 to opening 69 at St Andrews and an impressive seven-under 65 at Carnousties, which beat his previous best score on the Angus Links by five strokes.
The 30-year-old claimed his first big amateur title here in 2017, the St Andrews Links Trophy, and will be looking for a full-circle moment on Sunday.
"I want to be in the last few groups and I want to give myself a really good chance, certainly, on Sunday, and yeah, that's what I've done today," he said. "So let's see what tomorrow brings.
"I have a few memories, my dad was an R&A member before I was a pro. I have a few memories of him and my dad playing the Old Course, which was brilliant. So of course the St Andrews Links, I managed to win that one as well, my first big amateur title. It's a place I'm quite fond of."
Read More: Matthew Jordan targeting full circle moment at St Andrews at Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
End of dialog window.
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.
Four-time DP World Tour Meronk carded the joint-lowest round of the day at Kingsbarns, which featured seven birdies and an eagle for a nine-under 63.
The Pole, whose started his professional career at this championship ten years ago, creditted his putter as he admitted its been a while since he's been in contention heading into a final round.
"I haven't been here for a while in this position," said Meronk, who currently sits at 144th on the Race to Dubai Ranking presented by DP World.
"Yeah, I got off to a great start today, four birdies in a row. Played really nicely. My putter was very hot. I kept rolling the ball nicely and I'm so happy with the round and how the day worked.
"I can't believe how time flies. You know, how fast it flies. It's already ten years as a professional but it's great to be back here. It's such a unique and great championship. Dunhill is just a great tournament. I'm happy about my spot going into Sunday, and I'm just going to enjoy myself and see what happens.
"Definitely one of my goals for the rest of the season is to keep status for next year. Obviously that's why I'm playing every single week now, to get those points. I felt like I've been playing really well the last couple of weeks. Just didn't get the full results. Hopefully this is the week. But just play my game tomorrow and see what happens at the end."
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
End of dialog window.
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.
One behind Jordan and Meronk is Thomas Detry on -15, a shot ahead of Danish pair Niklas Norgaard and Jacob Skov Olesen, who also posted a 63 at Kingsbarns on Saturday.
Sepp Straka's 64 was the lowest round in St Andrews to put him on 13-under, with a pack of nine players on 12-under-par that includes former champions Robert MacIntyre and Matt Fitzpatrick.
In the team competition, 20 teams made the cut for the final round Pro-Am at St Andrews with Meronk and Tom Chaplin leading the way on 31-under alongside David Law and Will Ahmed.
Click here for Pro-Am Leaderboard.