Leader’s length leaves Woods awestruck

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This article was published 20/06/2010 (5920 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Tiger Woods isn’t the least bit surprised at the way U.S. Open leader Dustin Johnson is striking the ball to put himself in contention for an even bigger championship at Pebble Beach.

Woods watched the power-hitting Johnson, winner of the last two Pebble Beach National Pro-Ams played each February, during a practice round earlier in the week in which Johnson pulled out a four-iron at the tee on the challenging 17th and proceeded to hit it pin high on the 226-yard hole.

“He’s just stupid long,” Woods said at the time.

The compliments are still coming, and Woods realizes even after his sensational 5-under 66 round Saturday — which put him at 1-under for the tournament and right back in the hunt — that Johnson could be tough to catch in the final round Sunday.

Johnson also shot a sizzling 5-under 66 on Saturday and is 6-under 207 with a three-stroke lead over Graeme McDowell. Woods sits in third.

“I’ve played with long hitters who can play, but he hits it just for miles,” Woods said. “I told the story all week, we played a practice round and he had 226 on 17 and into the wind, and he just pulls out a four-iron and hits it flag high in the air… Dustin just pulls out four-iron like it was nothing.”

HAVRET’S MISSION: Gregory Havret finds himself in contention heading into the final day at his first U.S. Open — tied for fourth with Ernie Els.

Havret beat Phil Mickelson in a playoff to win the Scottish Open in 2007 — and that’s his best win to date.

“It’s great to be there after three rounds. Obviously, it’s a fantastic feeling,” Havret said following his 2-under 69 Saturday that put him at even-par 213 going into Sunday.

The 33-year-old Frenchman rode his reliable short game Saturday into a strong position.

While in the past he has focused more of his energy on the British Open, Havret is thrilled to be playing so well in his U.S. Open debut. He birdied holes 5, 6, 10 and the tricky 14th, overcoming bogeys on Nos. 9 and 11.

And he wants to make sure he cherishes the experience of playing on Sunday in a major, and one played at a spot as special as Pebble Beach.

“Yeah, magical, that’s a good word,” Havret said. “I don’t know, I’ll have a nice evening with my lads and parents, and for sure it’s going to be something else I remember forever, but when you’re in the present you don’t really see and feel that. It’s more after.”

THAI ACE: Thongchai Jaidee has hit 10 holes-in-one in his golfing career — and he realizes it takes a lot of luck on top of pinpoint shot-making.

He did it on the par-3, 181-yard fifth hole during his U.S. Open round Saturday, a feat he ranks right up there with his best accomplishments in the game.

“I made it on the green and I was very happy with that,” said Jaidee. “It’s a very difficult hole… Very tough course.”

It marked the first hole-in-one in the Open since 2006, seventh in an Open at Pebble Beach and the 41st known ace in Open history. Peter Hedblom had the last one in the third round at the 238-yard third at Winged Foot.

Jaidee, a native of Thailand, hit an eight-iron off the tee and the ball landed on the left side of the green then kicked right and rolled into the hole.

He watched some jaws drop in the gallery and, then, cheers from all directions.

All this after he eagled No. 3 on Friday. He once earned himself a new watch when he aced a hole in Taiwan on the Asian Tour.

“No prize. That’s OK — in a major, I’m very proud. I enjoyed it,” Jaidee said. “A very good memory for me.”

— The Associated Press