Three shot swings on a single hole are unusual in golf. In the fourball format they are almost unheard of. But a three-shot swing in the final pairing on the 15th hole of the 2008 Mission Hills World Cup has turned what might have been a Spanish procession to the succession into an intriguing finale in which two teams will certainly have a say, and two others or more might just sneak into contention.
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Australia's Jones knocks a great 9-iron to six feet to set up eagle on 15 and a three-shot swing.
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A day that had started with Spain on seventeen-under and in the driving seat, four ahead of their playing partners Australia, ended with Spain and Australia level-pegging on 22-under. Sweden are four stokes behind on 18-under, and their consistent play over the first three days will leave them convinced that the gap can be made up over the final day in the foursomes format. Germany, who finished a stroke further behind, will also feel that they are still in with a chance.
The Australian pairing of Richard Green and Brendan Jones were delighted with their score. The left-handed Green, who plays the European Tour, said after the round: "It was a good, solid performance. We both played pretty well. I probably felt that I didn't hit my iron shots as well as I would have liked and probably didn't putt quite as well as I did yesterday. But all in all Brendan was right there for me when I needed him and I would like to think that I was there for him when he needed me. A good day, I think, a good solid day, and we are right there in contention tomorrow."
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Miguel the Sinner – this Jiminez wedge came back off the rocks and into the lake at 15
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The final group teed off around noon, but Spaniards Jiminez and Larrazabal were slow into their stride in the inviting fourball format, where both players in each team play and the best ball counts on each hole. Australia made three birdies in the first four holes against only one from the Spaniards, and suddenly the gap was reduced to two strokes.
Then Jiminez stepped in with a characteristic stroke of genius. The 7th is a par-5 that is shortened by the fact that it is all downhill, but with a right angle dogleg to the left at the end that makes it very difficult to hit the green in two unless you are perfectly placed. Miguel Angel did not find position with his tee shot so had to lay up with his second. He resolved the problem by holing out from eighty yards or so with his wedge for an eagle to the Australians' birdie, and a three-stroke lead was restored.
