Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Switzerland's Paolo Quirici holed in one in the third round of the Italian Open yesterday, but his final-hole bogey allowed his playing partner, Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain, to relieve him of the lead.
Quirici's seven-iron shot into the cup on the 158-yard short second enabled him to wrest the top spot early on from the overnight leader, Spain's Eduardo Romero. But the seven-iron then let him down on the 18th when a shot with it went into the crowd instead of finding the final green. A dropped shot there let in Olazabal.
Olazabal birdied the last to make up for a double-bogey on the 13th and set up a five-under-par 67. This took him to 10 under par and a one-shot lead over Quirici, who carded a 68.
Romero recovered from early bogeys with four successive birdies after the turn. But a bogey on the 17th meant he had to settle for a 71 and a share of third place with the young Britons Steve Webster, Dean Robertson and Raymond Russell and Sweden's Patrik Sjoland. Webster, 22, equalled the course record with a 65 to rise through the field.
Olazabal surged into contention from two strokes off the lead at the start of the day. He reached the turn in two under par. The 31-year-old Spaniard is now 69 under par in 27 rounds at six tournaments since he made his comeback. He had been out for 18 months with foot problems.
He tracked Quirici with two birdies after the turn but then drove into trees with one of three errant drives, nearly hitting out of bounds left on the 13th to allow Quirici to put daylight between them.
An eagle on the long 16th and a second shot to only four feet on the last, though, edged Olazabal ahead. "My driving has not been good for the last two rounds after a good first day," the Spaniard said. "If I don't get it right for the final round, then I won't win because at least 15 players can go past me."
Quirici was delighted with his ace, the sixth in his career. "I knew it was in when it was in the air," said the 29-year-old, who missed much of the last year on tour because of diabetes.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments