SOUTH AFRICA'S Retief Goosen put himself in prime position to climb back into the world top 50 and thus gain an invitation to The Masters.
Starting the Transitions championships in Florida in 52nd place, the former US Open champion, who has struggled with injury and form in recent years, knew that a decent finish would be enough to get him to Augusta.
And after three rounds at Innisbrook he is tied for the lead with fellow veteran Jim Furyk on 11 under par. Goosen carded a 65, while Furyk had a 66.
Halfway leader Jason Dufner is a shot behind on 10 under alongside Korea’s Sang-Moon Bae, with Ernie Els and Luke Donald three off the lead on eight under. A victory for Donald will see him recapture the No 1 spot from Rory McIlroy.
Goosen needed just 25 putts to card seven birdies and one bogey, but says he is not a certainty to play at Augusta anyway after scheduling treatment for his back problem next week.
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“It’s been a struggle for the last year with my back and I’m going to get some injections done on Wednesday like Vijay [Singh] did and see if that helps,” Goosen said. “I’m struggling around the course. Every shot is a pain in the back but I’m keeping it together.
“It’s nice to be back here, it’s always great coming back to a course you’ve done well on before and today was a great round for me. My putter was hot and that’s what counts. This golf course is one of the best we play on tour and you have to hit the shots, if you don’t you’re going to struggle, you’re not going to get away with hitting it wild. The greens are tricky too.”
Goosen and Els (68) were paired together and the former added: “Ernie got off to a great start, I just managed to make a couple more birdies than him coming in. It was nice out there talking a little Afrikaans again.”
Donald made the perfect start when he holed out from a greenside bunker for an eagle on the par-five opening hole. However, that was followed by four bogeys and three birdies in an erratic round of 70 to leave that leaves him three adrift of the leaders.
Asked about regaining his status as world number one, Donald said: “I’m not really focused on it, the aim is to win the tournament and everything else takes care of itself. I didn’t have it today, but I’m still only three back.”
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Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, who led by three shots after a superb opening 61 - the lowest round of his career - added a 72 to his second-round 73 to lie seven under.